Ronald Reagan Removed Solar Panels From White House

The solar panels installed during the carter administration heated water in the white house kitchen.

Ronald reagan removed solar panels from white house.

Five years later president reagan inexplicably had the free clean energy sources removed. Originally panels were installed in the late 70s during president jimmy carter s administration but president ronald reagan removed them in 1986 because of a roof leak and decided not to. During the oil embargo of the 70 s carter had solar panels installed on the white house. Ronald reagan removes solar panels in 1981 ronald reagan beat out carter in the presidential election ushering in an 8 year span where reagan s free market ideals and the belief that business and industry is best left to take care of itself simply didn t mesh with carter s subsidization of renewable energy research and industry development.

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. Reagan took solar panels off the white house. President ronald reagan took office in 1981 and the solar panels were removed during his administration. Author natalie goldstein wrote in global warming.

In 1979 president jimmy carter installed 32 solar panels on the roof of the white house to set an example for alternative energy sources seven years later president reagan had the solar panels removed an action that angered many conservationists. A larger photograph shows the size of the panels and their proximity to the rest of the white house. When reagan took office in additon to eliminating about 90 of the tax credits for solar research in effect raising taxes on this work he had the solar panels taken down and sent to a warehouse. 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 cafeteria.

Here is a video we created on the issue. Reagan s political philosophy viewed the free market as the best arbiter of what was good for the country. 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. When the reagans moved into the white house in 1981 they inherited 32 solar panels generating carbon free electricity on the west wing roof.

It was clear reagan had a completely different take on energy consumption.