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On Sunday September 21, the United States celebrated Sun Day, a national day of action focused on clean energy. As part of 500 Sun Day events that occurred around the country, the Climate Action Now community came together to take action in a special Sun Day Climate Action Party.
The Think Global, Act Local Sun Day Climate Action Party was filled with insights on how we can increase solar build-out in U.S. cities and states. After learning about solar’s incredible growth at the global level with Climate Action Now Editor-In-Chief Sam Matey-Coste, we learned about plug-in solar with Bright Saver, streamlined solar permitting with Third Act, and expanding solar access for homeowners and renters with Solar United Neighbors.
Watch a recording of the conversation (1 hour) or read a quick recap.
Recording
Quick Recap
Disclaimer: This is an auto-generated meeting summary from Zoom, offering a high-level overview of the discussion. Please note that it may not capture all details with perfect accuracy.
Quick recap
The Climate Action Party focused on accelerating the adoption of clean energy, particularly solar power, with discussions on global progress, challenges, and potential solutions. Panelists explored various aspects including regulatory barriers, technological advancements, and the importance of public support in driving widespread adoption of clean energy initiatives. The event concluded with the introduction of new tools and resources for climate advocacy, including the new web-based Climate Action Now Action Carousel platform and a petition initiative aimed at simplifying solar power installation rules.
Summary
Climate Action Now App Launch
Brett, the Founder and CEO of Climate Action Now, introduced the event and outlined the agenda, including an icebreaker question and instructions to take action for participants. He announced that registered attendees would receive a summary and recording link via email the following day. Brett demonstrated the Climate Action Now app, highlighting its ease of use for taking climate action, and set an initial goal of 250 actions for the event. He also introduced Sam Matey-Coste, the moderator, and mentioned the availability of a newsletter written by Sam called the Daily Dose of Climate Hope.
Global Solar Power Progress Overview
Sam presented an overview of solar power’s global progress, highlighting China’s rapid solar installation growth and its potential impact on reducing global fossil fuel use and emissions. He emphasized that solar power is now the cheapest electricity source, with China leading the world in solar capacity and manufacturing. Brett announced that the group had reached their first goal of 250 actions and set a new goal.
Advancing Clean Energy Initiatives
The meeting focused on scaling up and speeding up clean energy initiatives, particularly solar and wind power, with examples from California’s success in reducing natural gas use. Deborah highlighted the need to simplify solar permitting processes at the local and state levels, and shared a national petition to mayors to reduce fees and streamline permitting for rooftop solar installations. The panelists discussed the challenges of deploying solar energy in the United States, including high costs and bureaucratic hurdles, and emphasized the importance of continued advocacy and support from the public to ensure the success of clean energy initiatives.
Sun Day Movement’s Clean Energy Push
The meeting focused on the Sun Day movement’s efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean energy in the U.S., building on successful initiatives in Europe and Asia. Annie highlighted the need to remove red tape and embrace modern technology to remain competitive, while Deborah explained that Sunday aimed to increase visibility and vocal support for clean energy across the country through 500 events in 49 states. Cora discussed the potential of plug-in solar solutions, which are already popular in Germany, and emphasized the shift from a protectionary to a forward-looking approach in environmentalism.
Balcony Solar: Accessible Clean Energy
Cora discussed the potential of small balcony solar units to provide an accessible alternative to rooftop solar, especially for renters and those with shaded roofs. She highlighted that these units, which are popular in Europe, could be a cost-effective solution for generating clean energy, paying for themselves in a few years. Cora emphasized the need to simplify regulations in the U.S. to enable wider adoption, referencing successful models in Germany. Sam agreed, noting that current regulations treat small solar systems like large power plants, making them impractical for average consumers. Both speakers expressed optimism about the potential for balcony solar to drive widespread adoption of clean energy without requiring significant legislative efforts.
Solar Advocacy and Deployment Goals
The panelists celebrated reaching the goal of 750 actions and discussed the importance of solar energy. Deborah encouraged continued involvement and in-person activism. Annie highlighted that solar can be pitched as a financial benefit rather than a climate issue. Brett concluded by emphasizing the need to deploy existing solar technology, and noted that solar deployment is often delayed in both red and blue states due to legislative barriers.
CAN Action Carousel Launch
Brett announced that Climate Action Now’s new technology, the CAN Action Carousel, will soon be available for free to any climate-concerned group, allowing them to easily send messages to elected officials and earn points and trees. The event closed with a special pre-recorded greeting from Bill McKibben, the spearhead behind Sun Day. Bill expressed gratitude for the day’s accomplishments and emphasized the importance of continuing the fight for climate action.