Reagan White House Solar Panels

This symbolic installation was taken down in 1986 during the reagan presidency.

Reagan white house solar panels. In 1979 jimmy carter in a forward looking move installed solar panels in the roof of the white house. Five years later president reagan inexplicably had the free clean energy sources removed. The 32 panels were ripped out in 1986 as yes you guessed right. The reagan administration demonstrated an even lower regard for photovoltaics.

But in a curious parallel with the current occupant of the white house the panels weren t actually removed until 1986 five years after reagan took office. Author natalie goldstein wrote in global warming. Reagan who didn t think much of solar energy also allowed the tax credit carter had instated to lapse. 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.

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. It was clear reagan had a completely different take on energy consumption. To understand what happened we have to go back to the reagan administration. President ronald reagantook office in 1981 and the solar panels were removed during his administration.

When the reagans moved into the white house in 1981 they inherited 32 solar panels generating carbon free electricity on the west wing roof. Reagan saw the solar panels installed by carter for what they were a public relations stunt and ordered them dismantled. See the description and trailer below. Here is a video we created on the issue.

A letter to the president from his national security adviser richard allen reflects the antisolar sentiment that prevailed at that moment in the white house. The reagan administration weren t fans of solar. Reagan s political philosophy viewed the free market as the best arbiter of what was good for the country.