DC SUN: A Collection of Solar Cooperative Neighborhoods

Potomac Region Solar Energy Association, the local chapter of ASES (American Solar Energy Society and publisher of Solar Today) presents an opportunity to learn about an exciting new movement in DC to promote solar energy as a unifying force throughout our city.

Neighbors in the Mt. Pleasant community founded the first DC solar coop in 2008 - energizing more than 50 neighbors to take the leap to solar energy. The Capitol Hill Energy Coop followed this model and completed more than 40 installations in 2010. Now, more than 10 other coops have sprouted up in all wards within DC. DC SUN brings these cooperatives together under one umbrella to advocate for better solar incentives, improved customer service from Pepco, create jobs in DC, and spread the word about the benefits of going solar.

Our Speaker

Anya Schoolman is the head of the Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative and the founder of DC SUN. She is an industry innovator, a grass roots champion, and a political powerhouse. Since 2006 she has been focused on building a solar constituency in DC to support the development of solar, including a key role in passing renewable portfolio legislation in 2008, another bill in 2011, current efforts to reduce taxation of solar projects, to reform net metering, and to create solar gardens. Solar communities are a political force that can create enormous change. And she, with so many others in her organization, have harnessed that force. DC Sun has tied communities together all over DC to build a constituency that has created one of the most attractive markets for solar in the country. More importantly, for all of us, she has created a political engine that others can, others have, and others will, replicate all over the country.

The library is conveniently located less than a half block from the Tenleytown Metro Station.

Questions? Contact: keith@solartown.com