Jimmy Carter (1977-1981)

  • Carter believed that the oil crises of 1973 and 1979 were indicators of the start of a world-wide fossil fuel shortage and that Ameria’s hope for long-term economic growth rests on renewable sources of energy, such as solar energy. [3]

    President Jimmy Carter installs solar PV panels in 1979 to improve the overall energy efficiency of the White House building and in an attempt to demonstrate that historic buildings can incorporate solar energy and energy efficiency upgrades.

    President Jimmy Carter installs solar PV panels in 1979 to improve the overall energy efficiency of the White House building and in an attempt to demonstrate that historic buildings can incorporate solar energy and energy efficiency upgrades.

  • April 20, 1977, President Carter proposed the National Energy Program, which aggressively promoted the development of renewable resources. For solar energy, the National Energy Program provided— [3]
    • Solar tax credits: a tax credit of 40% of the first $1,000 and then 25% of the next $6,400 to pay for the installation of solar equipment and was supported by joint Federal/State program of standards development, certification, training, information gathering, and public education.
    • Business investment tax credit: industrial and commercial investments in solar equipment would receive a proposed 10% tax credit for energy saving investments
    • Federal Energy Management Program: the federal government would undertake a 3-year solar program for federal buildings to demonstrate its confidence in solar technology
    • State support: states were urged to amend their property tax laws to exempt solar installations from assessments and to enact legislation that would protect access to the sun and promote education of the solar field to consumers; they would also be required to develop guidelines that would prevent discrimination against solar energy users
  • Jimmy Carter was the first president to install solar panels on the White house, symbolizing Carter’s effort to stimulate growth of alternative energy sources. [2]
June 20, 1979, Jimmy Carter discusses the White House's installation of solar panels on the roof of the West Wing

June 20, 1979, Jimmy Carter discusses the White House’s installation of solar panels on the roof of the West Wing

On July 15, 1979, Carter said in his “Crisis of Confidence” speech:

“The energy crisis is real. It is worldwide. It is a clear and present danger to our nation. These are facts and we simply must face them … I am tonight setting a clear goal for the energy policy of the United States…. I will soon submit legislation to Congress calling for the creation of this nation’s first solar bank, which will help us achieve the crucial goal of 20% of our energy coming from solar power by the year 2000… To give us energy security, I am asking for the most massive peacetime commitment of funds and resources in our nation’s history to develop America’s own alternative sources of fuel — from coal, from oil shale, from plant products for gasohol, from unconventional gas, from the sun… I will urge Congress to create an energy mobilization board which … will have the responsibility and authority to cut through the red tape, the delays, and the endless roadblocks to completing key energy projects. We will protect our environment…. I’m proposing a bold conservation program to involve every state, county, and city and every average American in our energy battle. This effort will permit you to build conservation into your homes and your lives at a cost you can afford…. Every act of energy conservation like this is more than just common sense — I tell you it is an act of patriotism.” [6]

 

Ronald Reagan (1981-1989)

Reagan administration removed the solar panels in 1986, Reagan's Chief of Staff commented that, "he felt the equipment was just a joke." [9]

Reagan administration removed the solar panels in 1986, Reagan’s Chief of Staff commented that, “he felt the equipment was just a joke.” [9]

In 1986, President Ronald Reagan removed

the solar panels that just a few years earlier

were installed by President Carter, in doing

this, Reagan demonstrated his belief that

cheap energy would be available in the

United States for a long time. [3]

George W. Bush (2001-2009)

  • Bush administration had the National Park Service install a nine-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system on the roof of the main building used for White House grounds maintenance, generating power into the White House grounds’ distribution system and providing electricity to wherever it was needed. [2]
On August 8,2005, President George W. Bush signs energy bill into law at the U.S. Energy Department's Sandia national Laboratories in New Mexico

On August 8,2005, President George W. Bush signs energy bill into law at the U.S. Energy Department’s Sandia national Laboratories in New Mexico

“We believe in these technologies, and they’ve been working for us very successfully…. The National Park Service as a whole has long been interested in both sustainable design and renewable energy sources. We also have a mission to lower our energy consumption at all our sites, and we saw an opportunity to do both at the White House grounds.” [2]
— James Doherty, architect and project manager at the National Park Service Office for White House Liaison

  • Energy Policy Act of 2005 provided tax incentives and loan guarantees for various types of energy production. [5]
  • Between 2000 and 2007, the United States’ solar energy capacity doubled – and in 2008, the United States’ solar installations grew by more than 32 percent. [5]

 

Barack Obama (2009-present)

  • Since President Obama has taken office, the United States has increased its electricity generation from solar power more than ten-fold. [4]
    President Obama speaks at [11]

    President Obama speaks at solar energy plant in Florida, 2009  [11]

  • Growing deployment by the utility sector has driven down the cost of solar energy systems.
    • From 2011 to 2014, the cost of a solar energy system dropped more than 50%. [4]
  • In 2014, about 1/4 of new power generation capacity was from solar power. [4]
  • The White House hosted a Solar Summit to celebrate the United States commitment to support solar deployment and jobs by expanding our use of solar power in our schools, homes, and businesses. [4]
    • the commitments represent more than 850 megawatts of solar deployed, which is enough to power nearly 130,000 homes
  • President Obama announced new executive orders that by 2020 will— [4]
    • Improve appliance efficiency: cut carbon pollution by more than 380 million metric tons through smarter appliances
    • Drive investment in energy upgrades to federal buildings: lead to $2 billion in energy efficiency investments in Federal buildings
    • Provide innovative financing for deploying the use of solar technology: save businesses nearly $26 billion on their energy bills
    • Build a skilled solar workforce: assist 50,000 workers to enter the solar industry and create training programs at community colleges across the nation by building upon SunShot’s existing Solar Instructor Training Network
  • Obama’s proposed 2016 Fiscal Budget Plan allocates billions of dollars towards addressing climate change through renewable energy technology [1]
    • repeals ~$50 billion of tax breaks from oil, coal, and natural-gas industries
    • permanently extends a tax credit for solar power, costing the government ~$31.5 billion throughout the next decade
      • solar industry’s tax credit expires at the end of 2016 and Congress must vote to renew it
President Obama reinstalls solar photovoltaics on the White House for the first time since solar panels were removed during Reagan administration. The White House agreed to install solar panels in October 2010, however, they were not installed until August 2013.

President Obama reinstalls solar photovoltaics on the White House for the first time since solar panels were removed during Reagan administration. The White House agreed to install solar panels in October 2010, however, they were not installed until August 2013. [12]

Author: Abby Studen

Editor:Hannah Goldstein, Kevin Jackson

Sources

[1] Harder, Amy. “Obama budget would pour billions into climate, renewable energy.” Wall Street Journal (Feb. 3, 2015). Web. Accessed through http://www.wsj.com/articles/obama-budget-would-pour-billions-into-climate-renewable-energy-1422903421

[2] Madrigal, Alexis. “Hey, George W. Bush Put Solar Panels on the White House, Too.” The Atlantic (Oct. 6, 2010). Accessed online and retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2010/10/hey-george-w-bush-put-solar-panels-on-the-white-house-too/64151/

[3] Peters, G. and Woolley, J. ““National Energy Program Fact Sheet on the President’s Program.” The American Presidency Project. Retrieved online from Http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=7373

[4] The White House. “FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces Commitments and Executive Actions to Advance SOlar Deployment and Energy Efficiency.” Retrieved online from https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/09/fact-sheet-president-obama-announces-commitments-and-executive-actions-a

[5] The White House (2008). “President George W. Bush.” Web. Retrieved online from http://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/infocus/energy/

[6] Whitefield, Paul. “Observations and Provocations from the Times’ Opinion Staff.” Los Angeles Times (March 3, 2011). Retrieved online from http://opinion.latimes.com/opinionla/2011/03/where-have-you-gone-jimmy-carter-a-nation-turns-its-lonely-eyes-to-you-every-time-i-pull-in-for-gas-these-days-i-think-o.html

[7] Image accessed through http://io9.com/the-sad-fate-of-jimmy-carters-solar-panels-1469104906

[8] Image accessed through http://io9.com/the-sad-fate-of-jimmy-carters-solar-panels-1469104906

[9] Image accessed through http://helloartichokeannie.blogspot.com/2011/08/mr-gorbachev-tear-down-these-solar.html

[10] Image accessed through http://english.sohu.com/20050809/n226608723.shtml

[11] Image accessed through http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0910/Solar-panels-on-the-White-House-Not-on-Obama-s-watch.

[12] Image accessed through http://efergy.com/blog/white-house-solar-panels-fire-up-for-the-first-time-since-jimmy-carter-left/#