"Solar Panels Returning To White House Roof"

"The solar panels are coming back! A month after environmentalist Bill McKibben brought one of the original Carter-era solar panels to Washington, the White House said it is putting new panels on the White House residence.

Just four weeks ago, a discouraged McKibben left his meeting with administration officials without handing over the panel or getting any commitment to green the White House. On Tuesday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Council of Environmental Quality head Nancy Sutley made the announcement at a meeting of government leaders. The panels and a solar hot water heater will be installed on the roof of the first family's residence by next spring -- after the Energy Department goes through the standard procurement process to pick a solar company for the job.

The plan, said the White House, has been in the works for the past year and doesn't have anything to do with outside organizations lobbying the president. That didn't stop McKibben from weighing in: "If it has anything like the effect of the White House garden, it could be a trigger for a wave of solar installations across the country and around the world," he said in a statement."

The Reliable Source reports in the Washington Post October 5, 2010.

SEE ALSO:

"Obama To Install Solar Panels In 2011" (AP)

"White House to Go Solar in 'Clean Energy' Push" (Greenwire)

"Obama Trying to Turn Election Tide With 'Clean Energy' Emphasis" (Greenwire)

"White House Spurns Solar Panel" (Green/NY Times)

"Solar Cells for Electricity, Hot Water To Top White House" (McClatchy)

"White House Ends 'Deliberative Process' On Solar" (Dot Earth)

"The White House Is Going Solar" (Post Carbon)