Carter with the Whitehouse solar

” In June, 1979, President Jimmy Carter proposed a “new solar strategy” to “move America toward true energy security and abundant, readily available energy supplies.” In an effort to set an example for the country, Carter had solar panels installed on the roof of the White House West Wing. The panels were used to heat water for the staff mess and other areas of the White House.

At the time, President Carter warned “a generation from now, this solar heater can either be a curiosity, a museum piece, an example of a road not taken, or it can be a small part of one of the greatest and most exciting adventures ever undertaken by the American people.

In the 2nd year of Ronald Reagan’s 2nd term, Reagan took down the solar panels Jimmy Carter had installed on the roof of the White House.

The US people want Obama’s administration to put back the Solar Panels on the White House. You can help to Support this cause.

“It may be more a symbolic act than anything else, but it would send a powerful message that renewable energy, green jobs and climate change are really on the top of the Obama administration’s agenda.”

The organisors have created a facebook group for this cause, where you can sign up in support.

We Support Solar wishes them the best of luck!

An edited version of this industry letter was published by the Guardian on 4th November

Dear Editor,
As companies active in manufacturing, designing and installing community-scale solar PV installations and employing well over a thousand skilled UK workers, we applaud your paper’s campaign for a UK feed-in tariff (’People Power a Step Closer’ 31 October). This sector has been held back by a succession of stop-start grant programmes, which have been confusing for our customers and made investment in our businesses more difficult.  Feed-in tariffs would provide the long term certainty and incentives that our customers and investors need, even more so at a time of recession.

On the eve of the crucial Lords votes on feed-in tariff amendments to the Government’s Energy Bill it is therefore vital that the Government introduces a Feed-in tariff that actually delivers a rapid increase in the uptake of community-scale renewable energy schemes and to a quick timescale.  Having already consulted on a feed-in tariff for renewable electricity this summer, there is no reason why the scheme should not be introduced within 12 months of the passage of the Energy Act, something the Government is currently resisting.

There is also a need to ensure that the new scheme dovetails with the ending of current support programmes such as the Low Carbon Buildings Programme. Without that, significant job losses in the UK solar sector will follow.  In such circumstances, the only people who will benefit from a vacuum between current programmes ending and the start of the feed-in tariff in 2010 will be our foreign competitors.

If the Government is really serious about investing in ”green” jobs, it has an opportunity to act positively, decisively and quickly in delivering a Feed-in tariff worthy of the name.  We urge them to do so.  Many thousands of existing and new UK jobs depend on it.

Yours Sincerely,
Lyn Miles, Managing Director Romag Ltd
Jeremy Leggett, Executive Chairman Solarcentury
Andrew Lee, General Manager Solar Division Sharp UK
Bruce Cross, Managing Director PV Systems
Howard Johns, Managing Director Southern Solar
Jim Kenny, Managing Director Chelsfield Solar Ltd
Dr Loey Salam, Managing Director Solion Ltd
James Hoare, Managing Director Ardenham Energy Ltd
Will Grafton, Director Natural Watt Ltd
Stuart Smith, Managing Director Dabbrook Ltd
David Hillcox, Consultant Move2Solar Ltd
Mark Dickinson, Managing Director Energi Holdings
Paul McGonagle, Managing Director Chiltern Future Energy Ltd
Andy Tanner, Managing Director Plug Into the Sun