'Globama' movement heats up to get solar panels back on the White House

OAKLAND, USA: President Barack Obama’s recent Bay Area visit further fed his administration’s commitment to clean energy sources with a visit to the Solyndra plant, and a national coalition is simultaneously fueling a grassroots movement to honor and encourage the President’s intent to get solar panels back on 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

ABC’s World News Now ran a feature last week about this emerging movement for solar on the White House and featured Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, inviting President Obama to get involved. And while President Obama has expressed interest in solar energy for the White House, it is clear he needs a wave of support to make it happen.

The “Globama” campaign, with its petition at www.SolarontheWhiteHouse.com, represents that wave of support and today is announcing a partnership to create a powerful alliance with the Post Carbon Institute, the Solar Energy Industries Association and Kaco New Energy. Renewable Energy World and Grist magazine have also signed on as media sponsors for the campaign.

“We are thrilled to tap into the power of these reputable organizations to help spread awareness around the clean power of the sun,” said Sungevity Founder, Danny Kennedy. “President Obama is taking on clean energy as a major initiative, and we can’t think of a better time to announce our partnership and encourage more people to sign the petition. We hope that he'll see that going solar begins at home.”

Last week the “Globama” campaign held a “Shine-In” to congratulate and encourage Obama in his efforts to put solar panels back on the White House with a celebratory presence at the President’s San Francisco appearance at the Fairmont Hotel. Supporters wore glow-in-the dark “Globama” t-shirts and raised signs into the air encouraging onlookers to sign the SolarontheWhiteHouse petition. Check out photos from the “Shine-In.”

The lead company driving this campaign, Sungevity, sent a request to the Obama administration to accept their offer of a free solar power system in April that would save money on the electricity bill. SolarontheWhiteHouse.com launched on Earth Day and continues to ask the public to sign the electronic Globama petition.