- In 1979, President Jimmy Carter installed solar panels on the roof of the White House.
- Amid an energy crisis, Carter hoped to reduce the country’s dependence on foreign oil.
- President Ronald Reagan removed the solar panels in 1986.
After President Jimmy Carter died on Sunday at the age of 100, world leaders, including former US presidents and the British royal family, paid tribute to his legacy of humanitarian work and public service.
Among the many causes Carter championed was renewable energy, which led him to install solar panels on the White House in 1979. His successor, President Ronald Reagan, did not share Carter’s passion and had them removed during repairs to the roof.
The fate of Carter’s White House solar panels exemplifies how presidents can use their power to undo the work of previous administrations.
Here’s what happened.
