Be the Change... Obama Should Reinstall White House Solar Panels
by Matthew McDermott, New York, NY on 11. 6.08
Barack Obama photo: David Katz/Obama for America.
As president-elect Barack Obama has identified dealing with our 'planet in peril' as a top priority of his administration, if I were him I’d start planning to put solar panels back on the White House roof and to have a re-dedication ceremony photo op with Jimmy Carter.
It may be more a symbolic act than anything else, but it would send a powerful message that renewable energy, green jobs and climate change are really on the top of the Obama administration's agenda.
Symbolic Steps Must Be Backed Up With Practical Ones
For some more concrete steps that President Obama could take, he’d be wise to start by listening to people like Bill McKibben who are emphasizing that government-led action on renewable energy, re-engaging with the international community on climate change, and putting stiff caps on carbon emissions are all crucial to putting the United States on the path to a green future.
Though the National Park Service put some solar panels on one of the smaller buildings on the White House grounds about five years ago, putting them back on the roof of the White House itself would really be leading by example. They could even probably be building-integrated ones so they don't disturb the roofline of the building.
Note: If the humor in the photo caption is lost on you: Wikipedia - Lolcats
Climate Change, Renewable Energy, Carbon Caps
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Well said. You're absolutely right, government should lead by example, not by mandate.
I would like to see a federal tax incentive for residential solar panels ASAP!
I haz solar panelz back alreddy.
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990DE3D7153CF934A15751C0A9659C8B63
I can haz more?
Alright, this is great to say, but how can we get this message across to him? Any ideas?
Those panels were ugly and did not match with the architecture. They should have been taken down. Instead of solar panels they should use a geothermal heat pump.
Solar is great and I plan on using it in an addition that I want to build if the economy stops tanking. But solar panels are not meant for all buildings, especially beautiful historic ones.
This is a really good idea, but was the wording across the top really necessary? It sort of nullifies what you are trying to say when you perpetuate stereotypes.
why say "I can haz solar panelz back now"? sounds racist--not ironic in light of his ability as one of the greatest orators of our time.
For a guy so superconnected, people around him must read this site regularly because of all the info here.
I am sure the idea must have reached him by now.
Or it may have occured to him already. Lead by example.
vsk
While President Reagan did take them off in 1980, President Bush had solar panels installed in 2003 at various places on the White House grounds. He just didn't make a big deal out of it. And his ranch in Crawford was highlighted here for its use of geo-thermal heating and a rainwater cistern.
wouldn't it be great if he used that amazing fund raising ability and put it to use on projects like these, instead of taking tax money (i can hear the complaints now about taxes being spent of solar panels for the white house). I think people would continue to contribute for projects like these if he mentioned it, although i am sure there are some ethical issues that would have to be ironed out before anything like that would get the ok
Jimi Carter's solar panels were nothing more than a symbolic gesture. The last 30 years of energy reform has been full of nothing but symbolic gestures and inaction. What Obama has to do is break with the past and put in real change. I want to see solar panels in my neighborhood and everyone else's neighborhood, not on the White House.
Perhaps Obama might be interested in creating the new position of "Climate Change Czar"? Terry Tamminen, former Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency and author of "Lives Per Gallon" has been suggested for that job by Grist:
http://www.islandpress.org/
Lolcats not withstanding- bad judgment on the caption- looks too much like bad dialogue from an "Aunt Jamima" dialogue. Great idea on the solar gesture.
Treehugger has made a big point of greening politics -- this website should start a public effort that will get the solar panels remounted.
One way to convince Obama to remount the panels -- a show of support -- try something along the line of a website petition and optional donation. Though I can't afford the cost of installing solar panels on my current residence I'd be willing to put up a little money for the White House remounting effort.
Contacting Obama's team and convincing them of the good faith intentions of this effort, might be more believable if it's coming from the website owners, Board or executive members than from most regular people.
Or to use the author's own words upon TreeHugger and it's readers
That text isn't racist -- it's LOLCATS people. Look it up.
"solar panels are not meant for all buildings, especially beautiful historic ones."
Neither were electric lights, computers, air conditioning, TV's, phones, etc.
Perhaps a campaign along the lines of the one The White House Organic Farm project (http://www.thewho.org/petition) is running to urge The First Family to have the White House lawn converted into a 1940s style Victory Garden.
An online petition, to be delivered to the White House on the day he is sworn in, perhaps?
Um, also, maybe Jimmy Carters is saying that? Since he had the panels to begin with?
Also, are you people REALLY that new to the internets that you didn't get it? Really?
@bbk, it's all about "being the change you wish to see." how can he be effective telling others to put them on their homes if he isn't putting them on his?
@dragonfly and david, the caption is a take on a popular internet meme called LOL cats.
@greenkayaker, not our intention, but your point is noted. though, at some point there has (haz?) to be some Obama LOL cats, right? might as well get over this concern now, i think.
OMG!
how great is it that the photographer on the Obama photo is David "Katz"!!!??
Cho Cha- There are already federal tax incentives, really really good ones. Solar electricity gets a tax credit worth 30% of the system cost and Solar Hot Water gets the same credit but capped at $2,000 (because SDHW systems have a short payback to begin with). Your state might also have its own incentive program. Here in Vermont certain systems can have up to 49% of the cost covered by State and Federal incentives.
The White house obviously has some kind of backup, off the grid power and an existing solar setup. Why not add on to it?
The roof of the White House does see a lot more action than most other roofs though. Maybe some tracking systems on the grounds somewhere to keep the roof free for snipers and the architectural and historical purists at bay.
BBK said:
"The last 30 years of energy reform has been full of nothing but symbolic gestures and inaction."
This is very true. If on the other hand, all government buildings were made efficient enough to run on solar, then run on solar, *that* would be something of significance, since government bureaucracy is a huge industry unto itself.
Maybe Obama will have the Whitehouse retrofitted to LEED Platinum.
That's what I'd do if I were him.
Cho Cho says:
I would like to see a federal tax incentive for residential solar panels ASAP!
There is one. The bailout bill got a tax incentive for residential solar tacked on. It's much bigger than the rebate that expires this year.
Here's a USA Today article on the subject:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-11-01-solar-credit_N.htm
LOLCATS or not, the worst editorial call I've seen in years.
We've started a Facebook group to rally the President-elect to the cause - the group's site is at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34415834146
Obama is in the perfect place to start creating strong green influences on the country, especially where it matters: The youth who have given him much strong support. He has the potential to create a stronger green movement than we've ever seen by getting the youth truly involved.