It’s been a long road…

Solar on the White House did not happen over night. In fact, it’s been quite a haul. On Earth Day 2010, Danny Kennedy, co-founder of Sungevity, presented President Obama with his own iQuote and the offer of a free solar array for the White House from Sungevity.

The campaign did not take a break after the presentation of his iQuote. Soon after Earth Day, President Obama visited the Bay Area (in part to tour the renewable energy industry). The Globama street team was out in force to support Solar on the White House.

Months later, Sungevity partnered up with Bill McKibben and 350.org to strengthen our campaign. 350’s putsolaronit.com campaign and solar road trip (culminating with a White House interview) initially looked like it may be rejected by the White House, but it must have sparked something. A few short weeks later, Energy Secretary Chu announced that yes, the White House will again be installing solar on the roof!

At Sungevity, the excitement Chu’s announcement has caused is palpable. This is exactly the kind of statement that the administration needs to make to the Nation, and the rest of the world: It’s time for renewable energy, and we will be leaders. Thank you to everyone who made this happen. Your hard work and persistence is what drove this campaign. There are brighter days ahead.

Shine on!

Obama to Return Solar Panels to White House, Chu Says

From Business Week:

Oct. 5 (Bloomberg) — President Barack Obama will have solar panels put back on the roof of the White House to demonstrate that renewable-energy technology is practical for U.S. homeowners, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said.

“The White House will lead by example,” Chu said today at a conference in Washington. In addition to photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, a solar hot-water heater will be installed for the White House residence quarters.

President Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the White House 31 years ago. They were later taken down by Carter’s successor, Ronald Reagan. Solar-energy advocates have pressed Obama to return solar panels to the White House as a symbol of his commitment to renewable energy.

“The White House did the right thing, and for the right reasons: They listened to the Americans who asked for solar on their roof, and they listened to the scientists and engineers who told them this is the path to the future,” Bill McKibben, an environmental activist who led rallies calling for Obama to act, said today in a statement.

Sungevity Inc., a closely held solar company based in Oakland, California, began a “Solar on the White House” campaign earlier this year.

The Energy Department will hold a competitive procurement process to choose the company that will install the solar systems, the department said in a statement. The cost will depend on that process, according to Christine Glunz, a spokeswoman for the Council on Environmental Quality.

Chu also said today that the U.S. is on course to meet Obama’s goal of doubling manufacturing capacity for renewable energy by 2012.

Solar on the Muleaage House

Well, President Obama may not have accepted our offer of free solar panels, but President Nasheed did!

Sungevity hit the ground running in the Maldives yesterday. We’re there to install 11.5 kW of solar power on the roof of President Mohamed Nasheed’s residence, “Muleaage.”

President Nasheed accepted Sungevity’s offer to heads of state around the world to solar power their residences. The installation, the first of its kind in the capitol city of Malé, will help the Maldives meet its goal of 100% carbon neutrality by 2020.

The Maldives is at the epicenter of our planetary emergency. Its chain of 1192 islands would be inundated by a mere one-meter rise in sea levels, displacing its 400,000 residents and triggering a massive climate refugee crisis. The 48 solar panels will offset 195 tons of carbon and save the Maldives $300,000 in electricity costs over the life of the system. Sungevity is proud to support an outspoken climate change activist like President Nasheed and to help a developing nation transition to renewable energy.

Sungevity is designing, installing and supporting the system for free. From halfway around the world, Sungevity’s Remote Solar Design Team was able to configure the rooftop array. Now, a team of eight Sungevity installers are on the ground (or on the roof) at Muleaage installing the system. They’ll be joined up on the roof by President Nasheed on October 7, in observance of the 10/10/10 Global Work Party sponsored by Solar on the White House partner 350.org.

Sungevity is grateful for the generous support of our project partners: LG donated the panels; Ironridge donated the mounting system; and KACO donated the inverter.

Stay tuned throughout the week for daily updates on the installation and photos of this island paradise.

–Erica Etelson

Mark your calendar

10/10/10:  It’ a date you can’t easily forget, and a date organizers hope world leaders will remember when they head to the next round of climate talks next month in Cancun.

10/10/10 is a Global Work Party celebrating local climate solutions.  So far, local organizers have registered 5511 work parties in 181 countries.  Volunteers around the world will be planting community gardens and trees, offering free bicycle repairs, weatherizing buildings and, of course, installing solar panels.

Sungevity has had 10/10/10 on the calendar for a long time.  We’ll be in the Maldives installing solar panels on the roof of the President’s home.  Visit this blog next week for continuous coverage of the Solar on the Maldivian White House installation.

What are you doing on 10/10/10?  Find work parties in your home town at 350.org.  The more people who participate, the stronger the message to Washington, D.C.: “Here’s what we’re doing about climate change–what are you doing?”

–Erica Etelson

Obama to McKibben: Not right now

This morning, the crew at 350.org met with White House officials to push for the installation of a Sungevity home solar system.  While the White House didn’t reject the offer outright, they told 350.org campaigners that any such decision would have to be part of the broader sustainability assessment the White House is undertaking.

350.org founder Bill McKibben had this to say after the disappointing meeting:  “They refused to take the Carter-era panel that we brought with us and said they would continue their deliberative process to figure out what is appropriate for the White House someday. I told them it would be nice to deliberate as fast as possible, since that is the rate at which the planet’s climate is deteriorating.”

It’s hard to imagine what the downside of a solar-powered White House could possibly be, and we expect that, sooner or later, President Obama will come around–our offer stands.

–Erica Etelson

Obama to McKibben: Let’s talk

We’re way excited about the news that the Obama administration has agreed to talk with Bill McKibben of 350.org about putting Sungevity solar panels on the White House.  You can read about it in The Atlantic.

Globama does Letterman

Bill McKibben was on David Letterman earlier this week to talk about climate change and the new push to put Solar on the White House.  Sungevity’s partner, 350.org, has made Solar on the White House a centerpiece of its efforts to build a grassroots movement to demand a clean energy future.

Sungevity launched the “Globama” Solar on the White House campaign in the spring.  If you haven’t yet, you can still sign the petition and enter an on-line competition to become the biggest Globamanator.

Solar on the White House Update – 6/7/10

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Hey Solar Advocates! We’ve added two new partners (ASES, American Solar Energy Society and the ASES National Solar Tour) and have hit the 6500-signature mark!

Additionally, our top Power the House advocate is now a Solar Senator with over 4500 points!

Make sure you keep spreading the word and lets keep the momentum going!

ASES (American Solar Energy Society):

Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation’s leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our mission is to inspire an era of energy innovation and speed the transition to a sustainable energy economy. We advance education, research and policy.

ASES National Solar Tour:

The ASES National Solar Tour is the world’s largest grassroots solar event. This event offers you the opportunity to tour innovative green homes and buildings to see how you can use solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change. More than 160,000 participants will visit some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 communities across the U.S.

-Nat Smith

American Solar Energy Society (ASES) Fuels Momentum of Initiative Supporting Solar-Powered White House

Citizens Asked to Sign Globama Petition to End 30-Year Solar Hiatus, Cut White House Energy Costs
and ‘Be Solar Inspired’ Via National Solar Tour

(Boulder, CO – July 1, 2010) – The American Solar Energy Society is lending its support to a powerful public-private partnership to demonstrate the technological advances that can bring clean, job-creating, domestically-produced solar energy back to the White House.  The Globama Initiative is encouraging citizens of all political persuasions to confirm their support of this taxpayer-friendly project by signing an electronic petition that can be found at www.solaronthewhitehouse.com

In addition to the American Solar Energy Society, the campaign partnership is fueled by the Solar Energy Industries Association, the Post Carbon Institute, Solar Nation, CleanTechies, private sector solar companies and U.S. citizens.

“The Gulf of Mexico oil spill is the largest man-made environmental disaster this country has seen. Its devastation rivals that of the Exxon Valdez every four days. In its wake, Americans are again searching for clean energy alternatives,” said American Solar Energy Society Executive Director Brad Collins.  “Outfitting the ‘people’s house’ with a leading-edge solar energy solution serves as a beacon to the world that clean energy is a priority to President Obama, his administration and the people he serves,” he added.

California-based Sungevity is looking to donate a 102-panel, 17.85 kW solar PV solution that will offset 81% of the White House’s monthly electricity bill.  A San Jose-based company called Free Hot Water has agreed to donate the solar thermal systems and KACO New Energy has offered to donate the inverters that convert the collected sunlight to the common AC for the White House solar system.

“We are thrilled to have the grassroots support of these reputable organizations to help spread awareness around the clean power of the sun – and to make people aware of the tax credits, cash grants, accelerated depreciation and related economic benefits for American homes and businesses interested in going solar,” said Sungevity Founder Danny Kennedy.

“As the U.S. Senate takes up debate of the President’s clean energy legislation (the American Clean Energy and Security Act), we can’t think of a better time to remind Americans of the legacy of solar energy at the White House, and encourage more people to sign the petition and look at the economic and environmental benefits solar offers,” added Kennedy.

Solar energy has a history of serving Presidents on both sides of the political aisle.  Over 30 years ago, Americans were outraged at being held hostage to the interests of the foreign, oil-rich members of OPEC.  In response, then-President Jimmy Carter had solar panels installed on the White House.  His aim was to inspire Americans to educate themselves about the clean, domestic energy alternatives inherent in solar technology.

“A generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of the road not taken, or it can be a small part of one of the greatest adventures ever undertaken by the American people,” the President predicted. In the mid 1980s, the panels were dismantled for ‘cleaning’ and never re-installed.

In 2002, President George W. Bush accepted a National Parks Service proposal to reinstate solar on the White House grounds. The proposal allowed for a 9 kW solar PV system on a maintenance shed and two solar thermal systems to heat the White House swimming pool and hot tub.  But with few incentives to guarantee market stability for solar businesses or consumers, little attention was paid to the gesture and solar remained out of reach to most Americans.

“The difference today from 30 years ago is that solar technology has exponentially improved to offer Americans a broad spectrum of efficient, clean energy alternatives,” added Collins.  “And with concentrated solar power plants with storage capacity coming online in the Southwest, solar energy can provide electricity to our U.S. electrical grid 24 hours a day.”

To help businesses and consumers learn about the clean, job-creating solar energy options and the tax incentives that make solar solutions more affordable than ever, the American Solar Energy Society hosts the National Solar Tour, the world’s largest grassroots solar event.  Last year, 150,000 people across 49 states and Puerto Rico participated.

Now in its 15th year, the Tour features open house tours of thousands of solar-powered homes, businesses, and public agencies to introduce the solar technologies U.S. citizens are using to 1) slash monthly energy bills, 2) reduce environmentally harmful carbon emissions, 3) assert their energy independence and 4) enjoy rich tax credits and cash incentives as they improve their property values.  The bulk of the tours take place on or about October 2, 2010.

“Technologies have improved, solar module prices have dropped and credit markets have loosened to the point where folks can have confidence in their solar energy options,” said four year National Solar Tour sponsor Jyl Safier, Marketing Director for the global solar energy experts at Conergy.

Collins agrees. “We encourage citizens across the U.S. to sign the Globama petition.  And we invite people to join the National Solar Tour by showcasing their solar-powered homes and businesses on this year’s tour – or by taking the tour to learn how they, too, can harness the power of the sun to cut energy costs and create cleaner communities. “As this year’s National Solar Tour theme suggests, there’s never been a better time to ‘Be solar inspired!'”

ABOUT THE AMERICAN SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY: Established in 1954, the nonprofit American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nation’s leading association of solar professionals and grassroots advocates. Supported by more than 12,000 members, ASES advances research, education, and policy. ASES publishes the award-winning SOLAR TODAY magazine, presents the National Solar Conference, rallies citizens to build a Solar Nation, and leads the National Solar Tour – the world’s largest grassroots solar event.  www.ases.org.

Image Captions:

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is fueling an initiative to return solar panels to the White House while providing Americans with opportunities to tour solar-powered homes and businesses in their communities during its 15th National Solar Tour.

Americans wishing to sign a petition supporting a solar-powered White House should visit www.solaronthewhitehouse.com.

President Obama’s Recovery Act offers rich tax credits, cash grants and other incentives for businesses and homeowners interested in going solar.

Sungevity wants to donate a 102-panel, 17.85 kW solar PV system to the White House to demonstrate the powerful viability of today’s solar technology.

President Carter first introduced solar energy innovations to the White House in 1979 to assert U.S. energy independence following the OPEC Oil Embargo — and to inspire Americans about the benefits of clean domestic energy alternatives.

Solarize the White House

Symbols matter. When Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the White House in 1979, they weren’t today’s efficient electricity-generating PV panels (they produced only hot water) and the goal wasn’t to make 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue energy-independent. Nevertheless, during a historical period remembered for oil shocks and gas lines, this was a way of sending the message that changes were needed in America’s energy habits and that the President was ready to lead by example.

The symbolism was just as clear in 1986, when the Reagan White House removed those solar panels. Federal renewable energy tax credits had been rescinded, gas was cheap again, and U.S. energy goals had been refocused on maintaining access to the world’s oil-which is to say that they had essentially been militarized.

Pictures of the two occasions were and are worth about a billion barrels’ worth of words.

Today there is an effort under way to convince the current White House occupant-in-chief to use symbolism to underscore his intention to, in his own words, “seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels.” Oakland CA-based Sungevity has offered to donate and install a home solar system on the roof of the White House, and a “Globama” campaign (www.solaronthewhitehouse.com/) is being cheerfully waged to convince the Obamas that this is a good idea.

Keep reading the rest of this great blog post by Richard Heinberg at the Post Carbon Institute.