Private Law Practice and Alternative Energy Ventures, 2002 To Current
After retiring from the State Assembly in 2002, Hertzberg joined Mayer Brown LLP, formerly Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw as a full partner. At the firm, Hertzberg has specialized in government affairs, providing strategic advice to companies doing business in California and nationally. He has been particularly interested in the fields of the environment, climate-change, energy, water and Indian related issues, as well as the telecom and real estate industries.
Besides his law practice, Hertzberg has also been very active in the alternative energy business, founding Solar Integrated Technology in 2002, Renewable Capital in 2006 and co-founding G24 Innovations Limited in 2006. (See introduction above).
A February, 2009 Fortune Magazine profile noted that Hertzberg served as Speaker of the California State Assembly when out-of-state power companies extorted huge price increases from California and helped sink the Golden State's economy: "that debacle left him passionate about the importance of renewable energy." A September close-up in The Economist proclaimed that, "Bob Hertzberg has lost the sunny mien of a seasoned American politician." Fortune called Hertzberg "the most contrarian guy in the renewable energy business" for his dedication to promoting his products in the poorest areas of the world – South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa (including war-torn Rwanda). Said Hertzberg: "So far, solar power has benefited rich people, governments and corporations. We're going to provide it for ordinary folks."
Hertzberg's company, G24Innovations, asked for no government subsidies to re-locate in Wales ("we just wanted to be left alone. Don't rely on subsidies. You spend all your time and money filling in forms"). The Economist quotes Hertzberg as opposing subsidies because they cause alternative energy firms to lose focus: "companies hire lobbyists to chase subsidies rather than hiring scientists to create a better product." The only assistance G24i received from the Welsh government was building a fence around their plant. G24i is also building a "green educational center" for local children. "He's a very impressive chap," commented Helen Williams, an official with Invest Wales. "He wants results, and because he's so upfront about it rather than being wishy-washy, people are willing to help."
Fortune reports that the G24i solar cells are much more efficient as other solar products and are manufactured in a wind-powered plant. ("It's renewable energy making renewable energy!" crows Hertzberg). Hertzberg argues that the growth of "micro-finance" programs in the Third World will make his product widely affordable for the poor and told his Welsh colleagues: "analysts are missing the bigger picture. The big companies aren't coming. But you can help the little folks come in and make heroes out of them."
Read more about this topic: Robert Hertzberg
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