A Presidential Candidates Pissing Match?
Originally published on the ECOreport.
In the midst of what is probably the ugliest pre-election contests of recent memory, one of California’s best known solar companies has gotten into the act with a campaign of its own. For its “Who’s the Brightest Candidate?” campaign, Sungevity used its remote solar design software to calculate how much solar capacity each candidate could put on his or her roof. So, is this a presidential candidates pissing match — who’s roof can stack the most solar?
A Presidential Candidates Pissing Match?
Given his ostentatious personality, it should come as no surprise to find that Donald Trump is way out front in terms of size, with room for a whopping 33.3 kW system. Bernie Sander’s humbler, though still large, abode trails far behind the others with a mere 8.7 kW — but that is missing the point.
This isn’t meant to be a contest. Sungevity is issuing a challenge.
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Sungevity’s inspiration comes from the 2010 Earth Day gala at the Rose Garden when Sungevity co-founder Danny Kennedy asked President Obama to put solar panels on the White House. It was not a simple request. When President Jimmy Carter put panels on the White House, in 1979, America was poised to launch the solar revolution. Only, Ronald Reagan was elected president the following year — the panels were taken off and the United States basically stood by while other nations developed a technology America invented. Though Obama responded, “Good idea, let’s do that,” he didn’t follow through. So, with the help of Bill McKibben’s 350.org, Sungevity launched the Globama campaign, which is credited with convincing the Obama Administration to put solar panels back on the White House in 2014.
Now, Sungevity is launching another campaign for the 2016 election. It has drawn up quotes entirely customized to match the solar potential of each candidate’s rooftop. People can tweet directly at the candidates and urge them to be the Brightest Candidate at blog.sungevity.com/brightest-candidate.
“Who’s the Brightest Candidate?”
In a press release sent to us directly, Sungevity writes:
“Throughout the 2016 election, candidates have preached about fiscal responsibility, economic opportunity and job creation – all benefits that solar energy can deliver. Sungevity is challenging the major candidates – Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, Bernie Sanders, and Donald Trump – to be leaders in the “Rooftop Revolution” by going solar. Nearly one million American households have already gone solar, catapulting the industry into the national spotlight. In the U.S. alone, the solar industry employs more than 200,000 U.S. workers and GTM Research projects another record year for solar in 2016 with installations reaching 16 GWdc, a 119% increase over 2015.
“The reality of solar is catching on and very soon millions more U.S. homes will have a solar system. It’s better for the pocketbook, for the planet, for the economy, for security – it’s humanity’s next big step,” said Danny Kennedy, Sungevity’s co-founder, environmental champion and author of Rooftop Revolution, How Solar Power Can Save Our Economy – and Our Planet – from Dirty Energy.
“We need elected leaders, solar advocates, activists, entrepreneurs and consumers to bring about this change right now,” Kennedy said. “American voters have the right to know which presidential candidate is truly committed to building a clean energy future.”
Does this campaign sound like something dreamed up in Sungevity’s PR department?
Probably, but I enjoyed getting a peak at those rooflines.
All images courtesy Sungevity
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