In Madison, Wisconsin, Susan Millar recently hosted an unusual open house. She wasn’t selling her home; instead, she welcomed curious strangers to explore her solar-powered residence, featuring a heat pump, solar panels, battery storage, and an electric induction stove.
This gathering was just one of over 450 ‘Sun Day’ events happening nationwide, showcasing solar power and renewable energy solutions. Activities range from electric vehicle parades and church sermons to home tours, with most scheduled for Sunday, just before the Autumn solar equinox. Millar’s early event offered a glimpse into the broader movement.
“You truly can live in an older home like this without relying on combustion,” Millar remarked, highlighting the absence of fossil fuels in her daily life.
The concept for ‘Sun Day’ originated with climate activist and author Bill McKibben, who noticed the significant drop in renewable energy costs. Over the past 15 years, solar power has seen its costs plummet by almost 90 percent, establishing it as the most affordable energy source globally.
McKibben eloquently described solar power’s transformation, moving from a niche, expensive option to an accessible, bulk-available commodity, much like a discount warehouse product.
This celebration occurs amid significant policy shifts: the Trump administration and a Republican-led Congress have sought to eliminate tax credits for electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar installations. They’ve also cut funding for initiatives like ‘Solar for All,’ designed to bring solar energy to lower-income families, and have actively hindered the offshore wind sector, even halting wind farm construction.
Simultaneously, the current administration continues to advocate for increased development and use of fossil fuels—oil, gas, and coal—whose combustion is a primary driver of global warming.
This isn’t America’s first ‘Sun Day.’ President Jimmy Carter, known for installing 32 solar panels on the White House, first declared a national Sun Day on May 3, 1978. Interestingly, those panels were later removed during President Ronald Reagan’s tenure.
Organizers in Republican-led states view Sun Day as an opportunity to showcase widespread public support for clean energy at the grassroots level.
Lisa Young, director of the Sierra Club’s Idaho chapter, noted that community solar projects—which enable multiple homes to share power from a single installation—have encountered resistance from local utilities and lack supportive state laws. Idaho also missed out on $56 million in federal ‘Solar for All’ grants due to cancellations by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Her chapter has put together several Sun Day events across Idaho, including workshops in multiple languages, an electric car exhibition, and a bicycle rally. One particular highlight is a crowdfunding effort to install community solar panels on a hair salon in Boise.
Shari Baber, the salon owner, shared that solar installation previously felt out of reach for some Black communities in Boise due to cost. Now, with more affordable options and significant potential savings on electricity, she hopes her business can inspire others.
In the Washington, D.C. area, Natalie Pien is hosting one of over 80 planned tours. Having installed solar panels on her Virginia home 15 years ago, she’s seen her monthly energy costs drop dramatically from over $150 to around $35. Thanks to a utility program that credits her for excess electricity fed into the grid, she often pays nothing during the summer.
Most states offer similar ‘net metering’ programs, which are crucial for making residential solar appealing. Research indicates that net metering can more than double homeowner interest in solar installations.
‘Sun Day’ events are also taking place internationally, including in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In Germany, for example, an event will focus on new regulations for ‘balkonkraftwerk’—balcony-mounted solar panels now found in half a million German residences.
Interestingly, Joe Ackerman in Canada is hosting a ‘Sun Day’ event despite not having solar panels himself. His Winnipeg home isn’t ideal for solar due to its orientation and the region’s frequent heavy snowfall.
Nevertheless, Dr. Ackerman recently managed to eliminate natural gas heating in his century-old home by upgrading insulation and utilizing an electric heater alongside a wood stove.
“No home improvement is too minor,” he stated. “You can achieve significant changes incrementally.”
Beyond residential showcases, ‘Sun Day’ also highlights mobile solar solutions. In Kentucky, Lane Boldman, director of the Kentucky Conservation Committee, will display her solar-equipped Winnebago, enabling her to camp completely off-grid.
Meanwhile, Fairfax County schools in Virginia plan to power a live band and a cotton candy machine using one of their electric school buses—part of an expanding fleet.
Bobby Monacella, an organizer for Mothers Out Front, emphasized the dual benefits: “Each electric school bus removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and reduces pollution impacting children’s lungs. Every new electric bus feels like a major victory.”
Portland, Oregon, is set to host possibly the largest ‘Sun Day’ gathering: a grand festival organized by numerous local groups. The celebration will feature 25 food vendors, a parade over a local bridge, performances by Indigenous dancers, and an array of towering papier-mâché animal puppets floating above attendees.
Laura Iwanaga, who spearheaded Portland’s ‘Sun Day’ event for Third Act, a national climate advocacy group co-founded by McKibben, expressed her vision: “I truly wanted it to be celebratory and inspiring. We often focus on what we’re opposing, but it’s equally important to remember what we’re striving to achieve.”