Reagan Removed Solar Panels

Soon after he left office in 1981 president ronald reagan removed the solar panels he d installed at the white house.

Reagan removed solar panels.

Barry commoner a distinguished scientist and strong solar advocate was surprised and troubled by the smallness of both the proposed solar research budget and expected results he wanted to see the data from the national science foundation that supported the atomic energy commission s dismal view of the future of solar power especially since solar subpanel ix the scientific panel. Five years later president reagan inexplicably had the free clean energy sources removed. Reagan was quoted as saying the panels were unsightly and unnecessary. 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.

When the reagans moved into the white house in 1981 they inherited 32 solar panels generating carbon free electricity on the west wing roof. Author natalie goldstein wrote in global warming. The white house itself once harvested the power of the sun. That was probably the case during the energy crisis of the 1970s when president jimmy carter donned a sweater turned down his thermostat and had a solar powered water system installed.

On june 20 1979 the carter administration installed 32 panels designed to harvest the sun s rays and use them to heat water. Reagan who didn t think much of solar energy also allowed the tax credit carter had instated to lapse. 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. Reagan s political philosophy viewed the free market as the best arbiter of what was good for the country.

It was later removed by president ronald reagan who shipped the panels off to unity college in maine where they still heat the water for the school s. President ronald reagan took office in 1981 and the solar panels were removed during his administration. Dirck halstead getty images. In 1986 ronald reagan removed the solar panels installed by jimmy carter from the white house.