In Madison, Wisconsin, Susan Millar, a retired scientist emeritus from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, prepared her home for a unique open house. This wasn’t a property listing; instead, she welcomed curious strangers eager to explore her solar-powered residence, complete with a heat pump, solar panels, battery storage, and an electric induction stove.
Her initiative offered an early glimpse into ‘Sun Day,’ a nationwide celebration of solar and renewable energy encompassing over 450 events across nearly all 50 states. From electric vehicle parades and church sermons to home tours like Ms. Millar’s, these gatherings were timed for the Sunday before the Autumn solar equinox, with some enthusiastic participants, like Ms. Millar, starting early.
Ms. Millar proudly stated, “You can live in a 90-year-old home like this one without burning anything. Now all those fossil fuels are gone.”
The concept for Sun Day originated with renowned climate activist and New Yorker contributor, Bill McKibben. He conceived the idea several years ago as the economic viability of renewable energy soared. Indeed, solar power has transformed into the world’s most affordable energy source, with its costs plummeting by almost 90 percent over the past decade and a half, according to data from Our World in Data.
McKibben metaphorically described solar power’s evolution, moving from the ‘Whole Foods of energy — nice but pricey,’ to the ‘Costco of power — cheap, available in bulk, and on the shelf ready to go.’
A striking photograph of Ms. Millar’s Madison home shows solar panels discreetly integrated into its roof, surrounded by a thriving vegetable garden, underscoring her point about living sustainably without burning fossil fuels.
Another image captures Bill McKibben, the influential journalist, author, and activist, at a climate rally in Washington in 2023, organized by Third Act, a prominent climate group he co-founded.
However, Sun Day arrives amidst a challenging political climate. The Trump administration and a Republican-led Congress have actively sought to dismantle crucial tax credits for electric vehicles, heat pumps, and solar power. Furthermore, they have cut funding for impactful Biden-era initiatives such as ‘Solar for All,’ a program designed to expand solar access to low-income communities. Recently, the administration has also taken steps to impede the offshore wind industry, even halting wind farm constructions already underway.
Concurrently, the administration has prioritized the aggressive development and consumption of oil, gas, and coal, practices that significantly contribute to global warming.
This isn’t America’s inaugural solar celebration. President Jimmy Carter, known for installing 32 solar panels on the White House, first proclaimed May 3, 1978, as ‘Sun Day.’ Ironically, President Ronald Reagan later had these panels removed.
Despite these political headwinds, ‘Sun Day’ organizers in several Republican-led states are determined to showcase widespread grassroots support for clean energy initiatives.
Lisa Young, who directs the Idaho chapter of the Sierra Club, highlighted the challenges facing community solar in her state. This model, which enables multiple households to share solar power from a single installation, has encountered resistance from local utilities and lacks supportive state legislation. Idaho also forfeited $56 million in federal ‘Solar for All’ grants following their cancellation by the Environmental Protection Agency.
Undeterred, Young’s chapter has orchestrated half a dozen ‘Sun Day’ events throughout Idaho, featuring bilingual workshops, electric car expos, and bicycle rallies. One particularly engaging event is a party aimed at crowdfunding community solar panels for a hair salon in Boise.
Shari Baber, the owner and master stylist at Cut-N-Up and Company in Boise, envisions her salon as a beacon of sustainability. She noted that the initial cost of solar had traditionally made it unattainable for some Black communities in Boise. However, with decreasing prices and significant savings on electricity, she hopes her business can inspire others.
Across the country, Natalie Pien is hosting one of over 80 planned tours in the Washington, D.C. area. Having installed solar panels on her Virginia home 15 years ago, Ms. Pien now enjoys drastically reduced energy bills, dropping from over $150 to roughly $35 a month. During summer, her utility’s net metering program, which credits her for electricity fed back into the grid, often means she receives no bill at all.
Net metering programs, common in most states, are pivotal to the widespread adoption of residential solar. A notable study revealed that net metering can more than double homeowner demand for solar installations.
The ‘Sun Day’ spirit extends beyond American borders, with events planned in Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Europe. In Germany, for instance, a gathering will educate residents on new standards for “balkonkraftwerk,” the increasingly popular balcony-mounted solar panels found in half a million German homes.
Interestingly, Joe Ackerman in Winnipeg, Canada, will host a ‘Sun Day’ event despite his home not being suitable for solar panels. Due to its orientation and heavy snowfall, direct solar installation wasn’t feasible for his residence.
Nevertheless, Dr. Ackerman recently managed to eliminate natural gas heating from his century-old home by investing in insulation, an electric heater, and a wood stove, showcasing alternative pathways to energy independence.
He emphasized that “there’s no improvement on your house that’s too small. Bit by bit, you can get it done.”
Beyond individual homes, ‘Sun Day’ spotlights diverse approaches to clean energy. In Kentucky, Lane Boldman, director of the Kentucky Conservation Committee, will proudly display her solar-equipped Winnebago, enabling her to camp off the grid. A photograph shows Lane Boldman, a woman with glasses and curly graying-brown hair, representing the Kentucky Conservation Committee.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, Fairfax County schools are demonstrating ingenuity by powering a live band and a cotton candy machine using an electric school bus — part of their expanding clean energy fleet.
Bobby Monacella, a senior organizer for Mothers Out Front, a climate nonprofit, articulated the profound impact: “Every electric school bus we put on the road takes greenhouse gases out of the atmosphere and pollution out of their lungs. Every time we get a new electric school bus it feels like a big win.” A corresponding image features Bobby Monacella, wearing a blue T-shirt and white pants, seated on a swing.
The grandest ‘Sun Day’ gathering is anticipated in Portland, Oregon. There, numerous local organizations have collaborated to create a spectacular festival, featuring 25 food vendors, a vibrant parade across a local bridge, captivating Indigenous dance performances, and an array of colossal papier-mâché animal puppets set to drift above the enthusiastic crowd.
Laura Iwanaga, who spearheaded Portland’s ‘Sun Day’ event for the local chapter of Third Act, McKibben’s national climate advocacy group, expressed her vision: “I really wanted it to be celebratory and uplifting. We all know what we’re fighting against but we don’t always think about what we’re fighting for.”
