Last week author and activist Bill McKibben was on David Letterman talking about the environmental challenges facing America. This week 350.org the grassroots organization he founded began their round trip from Maine to Washington DC. The trip is called ” Put Solar on The White House.” In 1979, President Jimmy Carter put solar panels on the White House. In 1986, President Reagan removed them and they were never replaced. Years later, Unity College in Maine adopted the panels where they have lived ever since. Until now.
Bill McKibben and a group of Unity students are driving one of the original Carter panels from Maine down to Washington, DC. They’re asking President Obama to put solar back on the White House. Thus far, however, we have not gotten a firm response from the administration, even though other world leaders have pledged to join a Global Work Party on Oct. 10 (10-10-10). Mohamed Nasheed, president of the Maldive Islands, for instance, will be on the roof of his official residence bolting down panels donated by Berkeley, CA based solar company Sungevity.