Maybe solar power is not so hot after all.

That's one conclusion from the experience of San Diego Gas & Electric as recounted by California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The governator told the story in a speech at Yale University on Earth Day. As reported by various online sources, he made the point that the whole world wants to build solar power plants, and that the Mojave Desert is a good place to build one because of all the sunshine.

But people trying to produce that power and get it to the grid and big markets face lots of environmental hurdles. In one case, California regulators want to protect the habitat of a certain rare squirrel. In another, the route of a transmission line has drawn objections.

Schwarzenegger: "I don't know whether this is ironic or absurd. But, I mean, if we cannot put solar power plants in the Mojave desert, I don't know where … we can put it."

The story illustrates this: There's a cost to making electricity, regardless of what kind, and if we refuse to pay it, we can just sit in the dark and freeze. (hh)