Location Confirmed!

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Wednesday the new location of the Solar Decathlon 2011. Originally supposed to take place on the National Mall in Washington D.C., the Decathlon will now live on the adjacent site, West Potomac Park between the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Potomac River.

The new site for the Solar Decathlon 2011 in Washington D.C. The "Solar Village," a common nickname for the site,  has historically always taken place on the National Mall between the Washington Monument and the Capitol.

"We look forward to holding another world-class Solar Decathlon in a world-class location--the National Mall's West Potomac Park," said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "Keeping the competition on the National Mall property allows the students to proceed with their existing home designs, specifically tailored for Washington's latitude, temperature, and humidity conditions. The West Potomac site is in close proximity to a number of attractions and will provide an ideal stage to highlight clean energy solutions for thousands of public visitors."

The decision for the new site came after much protest from Solar Decathlon competitors and supporters. Members of the twenty teams, competing against one another, presented a unified voice heard through a number of different media, including a mass petition which circulated Facebook, a short video protest to President Obama, and letters to Representatives.

The teams' arguments were enough to change the DOE's decision, and the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2011 will be held September 23rd - October 2nd in West Potomac Park on the National Mall.