On June 20, 1979, solar panels were installed on the roof of the White House. It was the first time any president had done so, back when solar energy was just a concept. John Wihbey with Yale's Climate Connections writes:
"For President Jimmy Carter, it had been nearly three years of tough fighting for clean energy. After a long rollout of green tax credits, the creation of a nascent Energy Department, and a pledge to conduct the “moral equivalent of war” (at the time, spoofed by critics as “MEOW”) against an energy crisis, Carter had built up scars. And there would be more to come. He had had battles with Congress and with his political enemies over green issues. But he had some victories, too, and this day brought one more, a small moment of symbolism."
According to President Carter, the solar energy had, “the power of the sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.”
And then into the Oval Office rolls Ronald Reagan. Wihbey continues:
"The panels became objects of increasing indifference. And so did the tax credits and research funds that had provided the real meat of Carter’s energy initiatives.
President Reagan had declared government the problem, not the solution. That meant no energy credits. That also meant no solar panels.
Reagan press secretary Dale Petroskey told the Associated Press: 'Putting them back up would be very unwise, based on cost.' "
Based on cost? The original cost to install solar panels onto the White House roof was only $28,000 - mere pocket change for government spending - even then. Ironically, President Obama reinstalled solar panels into the White House in 2013.
Happy ending? Well, it's a start. As for President Carter's panels,let's face facts the real reason was oil and coal they were highly invested in those industries and getting rich what is sensible for the country and we the people is not favorable to them that my friends is why Reagan snatched them off the WH. if cost is or was ever a concern why did they always have enough for their agenda and witch hunts and exorbitant trips and retreats and the weapons of war on our dime.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-silver/omnibus-budget-deal-2014-5-worst-things_b_6307852.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/afghanistan-gas-station-pentagon_56377e29e4b00aa54a4ebddc
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/avi-yashchin/4-better-ways-to-spend-16_2_b_8017866.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jaimie-woo/our-taxpayer-dollars-goin_b_4740674.html
before you go pointing at Pres. right winger's remember who holds the purse strings and who endorses those checks not Pres.
