Sep 15 2010
Despite Obama’s Snub, Solar Energy More Accessible Than Ever
A week ago we spoke with Bill McKibben, environmental activist and co-founder of 350.org, while he was on his way with students from Unity College, to Washington DC with a number of Jimmy Carter-era solar panels in tow. His goal was to ask the Obama administration to symbolically re-install them on the roof of the White House to reiterate his commitment to clean energy. While our Commander-in-Chief declined the offer, his spokespeople did emphasize this administration’s “unprecedented commitment to renewable energy.” McKibben interpreted that as Obama “sending billions of stimulus dollars overseas to create so-called green jobs for other countries.” Many countries are far more advanced on solar technologies than the US. China for example, has successfully driven down the price of solar panels by almost half this past year. The Chinese government is heavily backing the effort to promote solar. Today we’ll revisit the discussion around solar energy in part 2 of a three part series, with Danny Kennedy, co-founder of Sungevity, the Oakland-based company that collaborated with Bill McKibben by offering to install a brand new set of solar panels on the roof of the White House.
GUEST: Danny Kennedy, co-founder of Sungevity
Find out more at www.solaronthewhitehouse.com and www.sungevity.com.
Listen to Part 1 of our 3-part series on Solar Energy here: http://uprisingradio.org/home/?p=15617
Next week, part 3 of our 3-part series on solar technology will focus on Community Solar power projects – a new model for local ownership.
One Response to “Despite Obama’s Snub, Solar Energy More Accessible Than Ever”
Love the solar options. We often stay in places that have solar units on the roof for water heating in various countries. This week we received ten panels that will power units that supply electricity to the poor. What is conspicuous for its absence in the current plastic personality political world is respect for individual enterprise and the joy of community investment. The androids appear and say what is on the “no error message” interna teleprompter. Nevermind, we get the same treatment from our Dem. Senators (we’re not even sure if one of them is still alive). PEOPLE MAKE PROGRESS; Keep up your good work — virtue is it’s own reward.