Last week, Bill McKibben and some college activists visited the White House to present President Obama with an actual Carter-era solar panel, one of the ones that Regan removed in the 80s. It was rejected.
Largely a symbolic gesture, the solar panel delivery was meant to encourage the White House to take a small step in support of clean energy. Instead of politely accepting the solar panels and obfuscating with typical political expertise, they refused to give the activists any kind of statement and may or may not have called the action a “stunt.”
Responses online vary from pity to outrage. McKibben’s expectations were already modest. “Clearly, a solar panel on the White House roof won't solve climate change” he said in the Washington Post. “But given the political scene, this may be as good as we'll get for the moment.”
“Sadly,” says Time’s Ecocentric blogger Bryan Walsh, “it looks like climate advocates won't even be getting that…That's been the unavoidable reality for climate activists in 2010—wait until next year."
Glenn Hurowitz is openly disgusted, calling for a “new president” on Huffington Post:
OK, I get it, the politics of climate is difficult. Congress wasn’t able to push through legislation this year. International talks collapsed in Copenhagen. The oil spill put a lot of folks on the hot seat. This stuff is hAAArd.
It’s been a tough year for everyone, but there’s something pathetic about a twice-abandoned White House solar panel. First Regan boots it off the roof, then when it finally makes it home again, the door is slammed in its face. The solar panels are now residing in a local nonprofit’s basement in Takoma Park. Obama, go pick up your solar panel. It needs a home.