Vote Solar @votesolar

Meet the 2026 Dr. Espanola Jackson Energy Justice Award finalists! ☀️ These 10 leaders are advancing energy justice in communities across the country—from building community-owned clean energy and creating economic opportunity to organizing for healthier neighborhoods and shaping more equitable energy policy. Their work reflects Dr. Jackson’s legacy: ensuring communities too often left out of energy decisions have the power to shape their own clean energy futures. Learn more: votesolar.org/the-2026-dr-es…

⚡️ Energy demand is rising, and communities across the country are feeling the pressure. In Illinois, community solar and other clean energy solutions can help meet that moment—while making the grid more affordable, reliable, and resilient. Vote Solar’s @JohnDelurey recently shared this perspective in the Chicago Tribune, highlighting how generating electricity closer to where it’s used can strengthen local economies and reduce strain on the grid. Many thanks to Reactivate for making projects worth bragging about and Pew for pulling together great resources on local solar and storage. Together, we’re pushing forward policies that ensure homeowners and renters alike can share in the benefits of a cleaner, more affordable energy system.

HUGE solar win out of Minnesota! ☀️ 🎉 The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) has accepted Xcel Energy’s Integrated Distribution Plan (IDP), which includes critical clean energy initiatives like flexible interconnection and planned net load. The Commission also ordered Xcel to file a separate virtual power plant (VPP) pilot program by March 1, 2027, which will explore how community-driven technologies like rooftop solar and home batteries can work together to support the electric grid. TLDR? Minnesota's largest utility included community power resources in its long-term planning – a move to improve system efficiency and affordability for all customers.

Recently, Vote Solar's Chief Programs Officer, Sean Garren, had the opportunity to share his thoughts on utility planning with The Wall Street Journal. "Before utilities ask families and small businesses to shoulder costs, they should be required to demonstrate they’ve fully evaluated and invested in faster, more affordable ways to get more energy out of the grid we already have." The truth is, our aging energy grid isn't fit to support the unprecedented demand from AI and data centers. That's why readily available solar solutions like community power networks are so important.

Our executive director @sachcon was featured on @KPFA Radio A Rude Awakening last week! Some highlights: 1) The grid must be built around flexibility. 2) Solar paired with batteries is increasingly replacing reliance on expensive gas “peaker” plants and reshaping how peak demand is met. 3) California’s DSGS program is a great example of how distributed energy resources can benefit the power system while lowering costs for every ratepayer. Listen here: kpfa.org/episode/sachu-…

Just one week remains to nominate you or someone you know for the Dr. Espanola Jackson Energy Justice Award! ⏰️ This prestigious award honors the legacy of Dr. Espanola Jackson, recognizing the critical role Black, Indigenous, and leaders of color and other oppressed ethnic groups play in advancing the environmental justice movement. Awardees receive a $10,000 financial award and the option to be recognized publicly. Nominations CLOSE Friday, July 17. Make sure to get your nominations in before the deadline: votesolar.org/dr-espanola-ja…

As we’ve seen heat waves sweep the nation over the past couple of weeks, it’s clear our aging grid can’t keep us safe from extreme heat at a price we can afford. Luckily, there's already a smarter solar solution available – Community Power Networks. Visit your new destination for learning about Community Power Networks: votesolar.org/community-powe… The future of energy isn’t one big solution – it’s millions of local ones, working together.

As we recognize 250 years as a nation, it's time to assess our energy system and aging power grid. Smart solar solutions — like plug-in solar and battery storage — are available now to strengthen our grid and lower our bills. We have the resources to declare independence from fossil fuels. Now, we just need those in power to take action.

Vote Solar's Executive Director, Sachu Constantine, breaks down the benefits of California's Demand Side Grid Support (DSGS) program and explains why not continuing to fund it beyond this year would be an expensive step — to the tune of more than $200 million — in the wrong direction for ratepayers. Read his full take here: bakersfield.com/opinion/opinio…

This is a huge win for leveraging smart solar solutions to strengthen our grid and lower our bills. From Vote Solar's Midwest Regulatory Director Will Kenworthy, "We are excited to see ComEd move quickly to stand up the Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant... It’s a model for how the clean energy transition can save people money." Read the full story here: apnews.com/press-release/…

June 21 celebrates the Summer Solstice ☀️ On the longest day of the year, support long-term solar progress by becoming a Solar Sustainer. Your monthly gift provides the reliable power needed to support Vote Solar’s technical experts going toe-to-toe with utilities in regulatory interventions and legislative campaigns that drive change in statehouses across the country. Together, we're building the long-term power to win. Become a Solar Sustainer: bit.ly/442iTZt

NOMINATIONS ARE NOW OPEN for the 2026 Dr. Espanola Jackson Energy Justice Award. This award honors the critically important role of community-based activism by people of color in driving environmental progress. Vote Solar will award the winner with $10,000 for themselves or their organization. Learn more about the award, eligibility, and nominate yourself or someone you know now through July 17 here: votesolar.my.site.com/s/energy-justi…

Electric bills are rising. Pennsylvania leaders can do something about it. New analysis from @SynapseEnergy finds three policies could save the average household $841/year by 2030: more clean energy, more customer-owned power, and lower utility profits. Learn more: evergreencollaborative.com/policy-hub/thr…

As legislative sessions wrap up across the country, we're celebrating important clean energy wins—and preparing for the fights ahead. Swipe to see key clean energy wins, challenges, and updates from statehouses across the country. While we secured some exciting victories, our work doesn’t end with legislative sessions. Become a Solar Sustainer to provide the steady support that allows us to organize year-round, hold decision-makers accountable, and keep delivering clean energy wins: bit.ly/442iTZt

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Solar beats coal in the US electricity mix for the first month ever: electrek.co/2026/06/09/sol…

The latest #FreeingtheGrid interconnection grades have been released, showing notable improvements in several states! Freeing the Grid is a joint initiative of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) and Vote Solar that grades states on key policies that help to increase clean energy adoption and access to the grid. The #interconnection grades evaluate the quality of each U.S. state’s #interconnection procedures. These policies dictate how energy projects are reviewed and approved to connect to the electric distribution grid, playing a significant role in how efficiently and affordably #cleanenergy projects can be developed. Grades are based on ten categories of criteria that evaluate the cost, efficiency, and transparency of the interconnection process, the technologies that are eligible, and other factors. Each state’s “report card” identifies how its policies perform across these 10 criteria and identifies priority recommendations for how it can improve. Explore now at freeingthegrid.org!

Exciting news 🎉 The SUNNY Act — which would immediately give New Yorkers access to plug-in solar — has passed both houses of the state legislature. Session ends tomorrow, and we can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away. Urge Governor Hochul to sign the SUNNY Act into law: action.votesolar.org/a/ny26-sunny-g…

Extreme heat, power outages, and grid failures hit hardest in communities already struggling to make ends meet. Community Power Networks help change that by turning new and existing energy sources like local solar and battery storage, smart thermostats, and EV chargers into a community-wide backup system. It’s a way for communities to control their energy future — and to make reliable clean power accessible for everyone. Learn more about the energy system of tomorrow that we can invest in today: votesolar.org/community-powe…

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Vote Solar’s Managing Director of Campaigns, @JohnDelurey, explains how Community Power Networks (Virtual Power Plants) are a cost-saving solar solution — and how Illinois’ Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act can help shape the state’s energy future ☀️ Learn more: utilitydive.com/news/illinois-…

Utilities like @PGE4Me are spending too much money without clear oversight or accountability and California families are paying for it. We need the Public Utilities Commission to take a strong stand on behalf of the people of California and stop blank checks for utilities by limiting the use of memorandum and balance accounts.