Two Weeks for President Obama to Meet His Deadline to Return Solar to the White House
In October 2010, the Administration committed to installing solar panels on the White House roof by the end of spring 2011
Washington, DC – President Obama has just under two weeks to meet his administration’s self imposed deadline to re-install solar panels on the White House roof by this June 21st, the final day of spring.
On October 5, 2010, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said in a statement, “As we move toward a clean energy economy, the White House will lead by example. I’m pleased to announce that, by the end of this spring, there will be solar panels and a solar hot water heater on the roof of the White House.”
The panels will not be the first to grace the White House roof. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed a pair only to have them removed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. The first President Bush also installed a modest solar system to power a maintenance building and heat the White House swimming pool.
Last September, 350.org founder Bill McKibben drove an original Carter solar panel to Washington from Maine with the request the administration install a new set on the White House roof. The request was initially denied, but after a good deal of public outcry, the administration quickly saw the light.
McKibben is optimistic that the administration can meet its deadline. “They said they'd get it done this spring, and I refuse to give up hope. Home repair is always hard, but they have a big staff, and I know we can arrange large numbers of volunteer electricians and plumbers almost overnight if they'd like them.”
In fact, a California based solar company, Sungevity, has already offered to install the solar panels on the White House for free. Sungevity estimates that the installation would cost about $100,000 if paid out of pocket, but the money would be earned back with savings on the electric bill in the first five years.
In October 2010, the Administration committed to installing solar panels on the White House roof by the end of spring 2011
Washington, DC – President Obama has just under two weeks to meet his administration’s self imposed deadline to re-install solar panels on the White House roof by this June 21st, the final day of spring.
On October 5, 2010, Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said in a statement, “As we move toward a clean energy economy, the White House will lead by example. I’m pleased to announce that, by the end of this spring, there will be solar panels and a solar hot water heater on the roof of the White House.”
The panels will not be the first to grace the White House roof. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed a pair only to have them removed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. The first President Bush also installed a modest solar system to power a maintenance building and heat the White House swimming pool.
Last September, 350.org founder Bill McKibben drove an original Carter solar panel to Washington from Maine with the request the administration install a new set on the White House roof. The request was initially denied, but after a good deal of public outcry, the administration quickly saw the light.
McKibben is optimistic that the administration can meet its deadline. “They said they'd get it done this spring, and I refuse to give up hope. Home repair is always hard, but they have a big staff, and I know we can arrange large numbers of volunteer electricians and plumbers almost overnight if they'd like them.”
In fact, a California based solar company, Sungevity, has already offered to install the solar panels on the White House for free. Sungevity estimates that the installation would cost about $100,000 if paid out of pocket, but the money would be earned back with savings on the electric bill in the first five years.
Last October, as part of the 350.org campaign, Sungevity installed 48 solar panels on President Mohamed Nasheed of the Maldives’ private residence. President Nasheed put on a tool belt and helped with the installation himself. The White House has given no indication that President Obama would be helping with his home improvements.
“A solar panel on the White House roof won’t solve climate change, clearly—we’d rather have strong presidential leadership on energy transformation,” said McKibben. “But if it has anything like the effect of the White House garden, the installation could be a trigger for a wave of solar installations across the country and around the world.”
“A solar panel on the White House roof won’t solve climate change, clearly—we’d rather have strong presidential leadership on energy transformation,” said McKibben. “But if it has anything like the effect of the White House garden, the installation could be a trigger for a wave of solar installations across the country and around the world.”
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