Isra-Mart srl : Obama gives green light to White House solar panels

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Isra-Mart srl news:

Energy Secretary expected to announce plan to install solar hot water and solar PV panels at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue



The Obama administration is today expected to confirm that solar panels will be installed on the White House roof early next year, in a highly symbolic move designed to underline President Obama's commitment to environmental issues.

According to various reports, White House Council on Environmental Quality chairwoman Nancy Sutley and energy secretary Steven Chu will formally announce the plan at the GreenGov conference at The George Washington University later today.

The solar panels are expected to be installed by spring 2011 and will provide both hot water and electricity to the White House.

Having secured plaudits for Michelle Obama's decision to grow a vegetable garden in the White House grounds, the administration has reportedly been considering installing solar panels since it first took office.

However, until now the administration has repeatedly resisted calls from environmental groups to install the technology, perhaps out of a desire to avoid parallels being drawn with the last US president to install solar panels on the White House roof – one-term Democrat Jimmy Carter.

Only last month, a campaign by the 350.org climate change group that saw one of Carter's old solar panels delivered to the White House with a request for it to be re-installed was rejected by the administration.

However, it now seems that Obama, keen to mobilise the Democrat base and highlight his support for renewable energy ahead of next month's mid-term elections, will move to install some more up-to-date solar panels at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.