Leadership and the Environment

History of Solar Energy

Solar power breaks through, after a century of trying

Think solar panels are relics of Jimmy Carter's White House? Actually, attempts to harness the sun's energy date to the Romans, who warmed bathhouses with sunlight streaming through large and strategically placed southern windows. But it was fear of coal shortages in the late 19th and early 20th centuries that fueled interest in solar technology. Early applications had the sun powering printing presses and farm irrigation systems. But the discovery of large oil fields and cheap fuel overshadowed solar power until the 1970s energy crisis. The promise of widespread solar panels resurfaced during the Carter administration, only to be dismissed again during the Reagan era. But now, with oil having topped $100 a barrel, solar is getting its third chance. Here's a look back at the history of solar power over the past 100 years.