Make it ‘Shine baby shine’ in Ohio - not ‘Drill baby drill’: William W. Wilen

I am looking forward to the national celebration of solar and wind power on Sept. 21 — Sun Day! Hopefully, people in the United States and around the world will learn more about why it is critical that we accomplish the transition to non-fossil fuels for our electricity rather than oil, gas and coal. We need to massively install solar panels now!

My interest in the need for homeowners, businesses and governments to adopt solar and wind energy as the primary source for electricity began when President Jimmy Carter had solar water heating panels installed on the West Wing roof of the White House in 1979. But the next president, Ronald Reagan, had the solar panels removed six years later. While Carter promoted conservation and renewable energy, Reagan wanted to avoid the perception that solar panels should be an important basis of energy policy. He cut government funding for solar research and renewable energy.

It is shocking to note that, more than 40 years later, the transition from Carter to Reagan in terms of reduced support for green energy is being repeated in today’s presidential transition from Joe Biden to Donald Trump. Biden heavily promoted the need to transfer to electrical energy sources from fossil fuels; the multibillion-dollar Inflation Reduction Act became the largest investment in climate action and clean energy in U.S. history. President Trump shows the opposite by attempting to roll back parts of the IRA and scaling up oil, gas and coal production. Trump wants to reward the fossil fuels industries for monetarily supporting his campaign for the presidency.

It’s interesting to note that President George W. Bush had solar water heating panels installed on the White House grounds in 2003 to heat the pool. Then, during his administration, President Barack Obama installed solar panels to heat the presidential living quarters for the first time, to symbolize the need for clean energy. Will Trump act like Reagan and have them removed, too, to symbolize his “Drill baby drill” philosophy rather than “Shine baby shine”?

In the city of Kent, the transition to non-fossil fuels is especially evident at Kent State University. Recently constructed on two sections of land totaling 23 acres are 13,026 solar panels producing about 10% of the university’s main campus electricity. Other KSU campuses in Northeast Ohio also have solar arrays.

Kent has begun its commitment to solar through the creation of a climate action plan — an effort on which I had the privilege to serve — which was approved by City Council a couple of years ago. The city hired a sustainability coordinator to implement the plan. Currently being considered is solarizing a large 15.3-acre abandoned brownfield property near the city. Achieving the production of electricity from solar panels installed on municipal buildings will also be considered.

Hopefully, Kent and its university will become shining models for other communities in northern Ohio. As solar advocate Bill McKibben argued in a July New York Times essay, “Sun and wind are no longer alternative energy;” they are “inevitable.”

Our democracy needs to become active. My analysis of recent Pew Research and Associated Press polls and a 2024 U.N. survey suggests that 70% to 80% of citizens favor transitioning to renewable energy sources, especially solar panels. People respect the scientific findings on climate change and want a clean environment for their children and grandchildren.

So, please make a commitment to solar energy in some way before “Sun Day.” Solarization should be celebrated so we can take the next step to survive the climate crisis!

William W. Wilen is a retired Emeritus Professor of Teacher Education at Kent State University.

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