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onreactSep 10, 2010
Obama: No hope, no change?
bukowskySep 10, 2010
no solar, thats for sure.
batfishySep 11, 2010
How does "didn't commit to" become "refused"? There was no commitment by the administration one way or the other as far as I can tell.
Also, I think these panels are in bad shape and covered with graffiti - by environmentalists. That was brilliant.
haleymSep 11, 2010
There were two parts to it - they "refused" the symbolic gift of the single, old panel that used to be on the White House when Carter was in office, and "didn't commit to" installing a new set of panels.
Closed AccountSep 12, 2010
Would it cost more to install the panels, than it would produce?
Secretary of Energy, Noble Peace Prize winner, Steven Chu spoke about Berkeley's Solar panel project,
“We want to Install some solar panels, we are talking BP into donating those solar models. We can barrow money for the installation cost, and other infrastructure costs at 3.6% interest from the state of California and the payback period is so far looking like 20 years.
Free modules, almost free money, 20 years."
The quote is around the 37 minutes mark of the clip:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRJwzvJY1Ec&...
Closed AccountSep 12, 2010
Solar modules not models... Damn you edit timer
tbhurstSep 11, 2010
C'mon, Barry, really?
novenatorSep 11, 2010
Although I agree that this is an important symbolic step that the Obama administration needs to do, in all honesty he has been a champion of solar power throughout his presidency. $2 billion was just awarded to solar projects 2 months ago, and I think that is probably a bit stronger a limited display at the White House. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/03/obama-awards-2-billion-fo_n_634693.html
Of course, every little bit helps.
tbhurstSep 11, 2010
It's entirely about the symbolism.
novenatorSep 11, 2010
Agreed.
Closed AccountSep 11, 2010
They wrong type of symbolism.
Closed AccountSep 11, 2010
LAME.
peace13Sep 11, 2010
I agree
rocko_stazettiSep 11, 2010
Why do they have a f**king cabana in the White House? What next an actual cabana boy trained in the Secret Service arts?
crapolatimeSep 11, 2010
Old Solar panels? Why bother. Just put them in the Smithsonian. Put on some new generation panels.
Wheres the 'bury button'? Maybe just report it as spam instead.
lyscraSep 11, 2010
WHAAAAAAAAAAAA! Who invited this doosh to the White House? Why does he feel he can stroll into the seat of the US government and make people do what he wants? They should make him live in a 3rd world country for awhile so he has some idea how good he has it here, and then while he is there revoke his citizenship because we dont need any more stupid people :PComment is buried, click here to see the rest.
nubnubSep 11, 2010
douche*
zephcSep 11, 2010
"Mr. President, would you like to install this 30 year old, incredibly inefficient solar panel on the White House?"
smedrickSep 11, 2010
My thoughts exactly. Those panels are as old as I am. Solar technology has improved leaps and bounds over the last 3 decades. The president probably couldn't even charge his blackberry off that panel.
cjw10Sep 11, 2010
The panels provided enough power to heat water for a cafeteria, yet it can't charge a blackberry?
FTA: "For the next 12 years, the school used the solar panels to provide hot water to its cafeteria and to periodically use for student experiments."
smedrickSep 21, 2010
They used the Sun's heat to heat the water, not electricity.
08sosoSep 11, 2010
Did you read the story - this wasn't about installing a 30 year old panel, it was about upgrading the White House with solar. "'Thanks, but no thanks' to the the Carter-era solar panel AND [sic] an offer for a new solar PV system for the White House."
Here's the project in detail: http://putsolaron.it/road-trip/
For some reason, for all its gardening, the WH couldn't care less about the symbolism of installing Solar even though GWB apparently put it in for the swimming pool.
tcbishop12Sep 11, 2010
Guys, guys! Since September 2002, a grid of 167 solar panels on the roof of a maintenance shed has been delivering electricity to the White House grounds.
charlotte_webSep 11, 2010
Not a fan of Obama's, but I don't see that he did anything wrong here. Some eco-activists were hoping with a photo op and a PR win with the president, and they are pouting because Obama didn't take the bait.
I also tend to think there's a security risk of taking building materials from strangers and installing them on the White House. There's no reason to do this.
bubba9999Sep 11, 2010
How are the laser/missile turrets supposed to pop up out of the roof with the solar panels there?
dirtyfriesSep 11, 2010
If only I could bury this for being a non-story...
cyberdroppingSep 11, 2010
WTF! This idiotic "story" was on the main page about 4 hours ago from some other submitter....
Sell some oxen and buy a bury button Digg.
tdubya45Sep 11, 2010
Obama says we should paint our roofs white to save on cooling, but the white house doesn't have to save electricity. We pay the bills!
darkshroudSep 12, 2010
The White House does have solar panels installed, I believe Bush put them in. They're just not on the roof and not old as hell.
dayal911Sep 12, 2010
I don't see what the big deal is.