Here comes the sun: White House to go solar
A huge boost was given to environmental activists this morning, particularly a group I work closely with, 350.org. Several weeks ago, Bill McKibben and some students from Unity College in Maine drove down the east coast with one of the solar panels that President Jimmy Carter had installed on the White House roof in the 70s. Ronald Reagan took them down in 1986, but this particular panel has been churning out power to unity college for decades. I signed it on it's way down to the White House, with great hope that a symbolic gesture would be made by President Obama and he would agree to install solar panels on his residence. Alas, Bill and the students were denied the immediate gratification of a "Yes", and were told the White House would "follow their deliberate process" and would look into it. I, like many, assumed this was just another way for the government to say "No".
I was wrong! Today, the White House plans to announce that it will be installing solar panels, and President Obama will join other world leaders who have agreed to do the same for 350.org's Global Work Party on 10/10/10. To learn more or find out how you can join the biggest day of climate action is history, go to http://www.350.org/. Currently there are over 6000 events planned in 184 countries.
Lauren
