The White House Goes Solar

As you know, President Obama has a strong commitment to American leadership in solar technologies and the jobs they will create. Through the Recovery Act, we're supporting the deployment of today's solar technologies. And we will double our renewable energy generation capacity by 2012. We're also investing in the next generation of solar power through the R&D programs at the Department of Energy.

Today, we're taking an important next step. As we move toward a clean energy economy, the White House will lead by example. I'm pleased to announce that, by the end of this spring, there will be solar panels and a solar hot water heater on the roof of the White House.

These two solar installations will be part of a Department of Energy demonstration project. The project will show that American solar technology is available, reliable, and ready to install in homes throughout the country.

Around the world, the White House is a symbol of freedom and democracy. It should also be a symbol of America's commitment to a clean energy future.

Steven Chu is the Secretary of Energy.

Cross-posted from The Energy Blog.