Reagan White House Solar Panels

Reagan who didn t think much of solar energy also allowed the tax credit carter had instated to lapse.

Reagan white house solar panels.

It was clear reagan had a completely different take on energy consumption. Reagan took solar panels off the white house. A letter to the president from his national security adviser richard allen reflects the antisolar sentiment that prevailed at that moment in the white house. The white house did not have solar panels in 2000.

When the reagans moved into the white house in 1981 they inherited 32 solar panels generating carbon free electricity on the west wing roof. The 32 panels were ripped out in 1986 as yes you guessed right. Author natalie goldstein wrote in global warming. President ronald reagantook office in 1981 and the solar panels were removed during his administration.

This symbolic installation was taken down in 1986 during the reagan presidency. See the description and trailer below. But in a curious parallel with the current occupant of the white house the panels weren t actually removed until 1986 five years after reagan took office. The reagan administration demonstrated an even lower regard for photovoltaics.

In 1979 jimmy carter in a forward looking move installed solar panels in the roof of the white house. The reagan administration weren t fans of solar. Five years later president reagan inexplicably had the free clean energy sources removed. In 1986 when the price of energy was temporarily cheaper and americans minds were less focused on environmental issues president reagan ordered the panels removed from the white house roof.

Under reagan funding was cut for the newly formed department of energy and in 1986 when the white house needed roof repairs under the solar thermal panels the reagan administration removed the panels and quietly decided to not reinstall them claiming it simply wasn t a cost effective option. Reagan s political philosophy viewed the free market as the best arbiter of what was good for the country. To understand what happened we have to go back to the reagan administration.