Solar supporters come together for D.C. Solar Celebration
On Sunday, November 19, nearly 50 solar supporters joined Solar United Neighbors to celebrate a decade of solar successes in D.C. over drinks and snacks. The event brought together solar homeowners, past co-op members, community members interested in going solar, and others at the Right Proper Brewing Company Brookland Production House + Tasting Room. Right Proper Brewing Company is one of dozens of local businesses that have gone solar, and is offering discounts to Solar United Neighbors members as part of our new membership benefits package!
Throughout the afternoon, our D.C. community mingled and talked solar! Watch the video below to see opening remarks from the event.
Solar United Neighbors Executive Director Anya Schoolman kicked off a brief presentation by reviewing our successes over the past decade, including helping nearly 500 homes and organizations go solar across the District and fighting for one of the nation’s most innovative solar for all programs. She also talked about our new name—DC SUN became Solar United Neighbors of D.C. in October—and energized the room with our ambitious vision for the future of the organization. That future includes our new membership program, which will allow us to build an army of solar supporters working together to build an energy future where people, not big corporations, own and benefit from clean solar power, microgrids, and electric vehicles.
Anya also introduced our new D.C. Program Director, Yesenia Rivera, who discussed our work on the Solar for All Co-op in the District that will be launching soon.
Solar for All, a program of the District of Columbia’s Department of Energy and Environment, seeks to provide the benefits of solar electricity to 100,000 low-income households and reduce their energy bills by 50% by 2032. The program, which was established by the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Expansion Amendment Act of 2016, is funded by the Renewable Energy Development Fund (REDF). For more information about Solar for All visit: http://doee.dc.gov/solarforall.
Guests also heard from Nathan Zeender, Head Brewer of Right Proper Brewing Company, about why his business went solar, and Mike Healy of New Columbia Solar, who installed the 57 kW solar system at the Brookland Production House + Tasting Room. If you’d like to support other businesses that have gone solar in D.C., connect with District businesses who have gone solar through our D.C. directory.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the event, and thank you to the volunteers, Solar United Neighbors staff, and to our hosts Right Proper for supporting solar and making the event a great success.