The possibility of a solar deal benefitting from personal connections with California Governer Arnold Schwarzenegger is being questioned again.

"A relative of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and one of his former cabinet secretaries are part of a private investment group that could score a lucrative payoff if regulators approve a sprawling solar-energy complex near the Mojave Desert Preserve. The personal connections have raised questions about possible favorable treatment for a project being touted as a breakthrough in the development of solar power," reported AP. 

It highlighted that Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime environmental activist who is the cousin of first lady Maria Shriver, and former state Environmental Protection Secretary Terry Tamminen were named senior advisers at VantagePoint Venture Partners last year. VantagePoint has a multimillion-dollar stake in startup BrightSource Energy, which plans to spend up to $2 billion to build three solar-power plants on nearly 6 square miles of federal land along the Nevada state line.

According to the report, Kennedy and Tamminen say they are not lobbying on behalf of the California project. But each stands to profit if construction gets green-lighted and BrightSource prospers, although their income is derived from a pool of investments, not a single company.

But State Sen. Roy Ashburn said the California Energy Commission should consider the link to Tamminen and Kennedy. Ashburn said, "The question is, does the project receive a different review, a different treatment because of those relationships? The public needs to be assured no favourable consideration is granted."