Save the date for happy hour with Vote Solar and friends. This is our chance to thank YOU – our volunteers, our grassroots activists, and solar supporters of all persuasions – by working behind the bar to show you a good time.

That’s right. You order ‘em, we pour ‘em. And tips help benefit the cause.

Note: Speed and quality of aforementioned pour is directly proportional to the simplicity of drink ordered. All mango mojito requests will be directed to Adam Browning.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 11, 2010

WHERE: Taverna Aventine - 582 Washington St, San Francisco

The more the merrier – so bring a friend or four, and come on down.

Equinox 2010 Party Photos

Equinox 2010 proved once again that Vote Solar’s supporters are more energetic than a dual axis tracking PV system on a sunny afternoon in New Mexico. This year we had 700 enthusiastic revelers join us to celebrate a cleaner energy future. If only we could convert the solar *community’s* energy into electricity, we’d be all set.

A heartfelt thank you to all who helped make this our biggest and brightest Equinox yet. We’ve put together a photo album for your viewing pleasure. It’s almost as fun as the party itself. With less of a hangover.  And for those of you who just can’t get enough, we have more photos from the party and infamous photo booth here.

Donations and good cheer from the evening help support our work all year long. Wondering what that entails? Take a look at our latest annual report to learn more about all that our intrepid team of advocates accomplished last year.

We’re working hard to deliver more of the same in 2010. So thank you again for being part of those efforts, and here’s to sunnier days ahead.

It’s that time of year again – when daylight starts to outweigh darkness, growth begins anew, and Vote Solar throws a really big party.

Please consider yourself cordially invited to Equinox 2010 - our fourth annual celebration and fundraiser.

WHEN: Tuesday March 16, 2010 – 6:30-11 PM

WHERE: Mezzanine, 444 Jessie St, San Francisco

We’ll be honoring special guests Governor Ritter of Colorado and Nevada State Senate Majority Leader Horsford as this year’s solar champions.  And, as usual, we have an all-star line-up of entertainment.  Live music, fantastic sustainable eats from foodie favorite Radio Africa Kitchen, complimentary wine until it runs out, and some treats that will just have to remain a surprise for the time being.  Trust us. They’ll be good.

Click here for tickets, directions and more.

2009 was a challenging year in many ways.  But, now a couple months into a busy 2010, we have never been as optimistic about our solar future as we are today. We are busy expanding markets in existing powerhouses like California and Colorado and opening new states across the Midwest and Northeast up for tremendous growth. We have a new community solar initiative to advance municipal programs like PACE financing nationwide. And at the other end of the spectrum, our central-station work has never been more dynamic. In addition to showing you all a good time, our Equinox party directly supports these efforts.

We hope to see you there!

The good folk at SunPower Foundation are hosting a series of events this fall to help raise awareness and funds for renewable energy change makers. We’re tickled pink that they’ve chosen us along with our compadres at Grid Alternatives to be the lucky beneficiaries of their first party.

SunPower Presents the Art of Change

When: Wednesday October 7, 2009; 6:30 – 9:30 PM

Where: Roe Lounge - 651 Howard St (between 2nd & 3rd); San Francisco

Your $5-20 donation at the door goes directly to Grid Alternatives and Vote Solar. Cash bar, delectable small plates, silent auction and – of course – great company will be part of the evening. We hope you’ll be there too.

It’s time for another legendary Vote Solar Bartending Night. You order ‘em, we pour ‘em – just don’t be surprised if your Maple Leaf Manhattan tastes more like Miller Lite. Tips support our efforts to bring solar energy to the mainstream.

When:
Monday, August 31, 2009
5:30pm – 8:30pm

Where:
Taverna Aventine
582 Washington St (at Montgomery St)
San Francisco, CA

It’s gonna be a party. Even our Director of East Coast Campaigns Shaun Chapman will be making a special west coast appearance for the occasion . . . so bring a friend, come thirsty, and help us prove that Monday’s the new Friday.

Posted by Adam Browning

What was inauguration weekend like? Kind of like Mardi Gras, but with more clothes.

There were millions of people in town, and every one of them in a great mood. The commonality of purpose brought out the kind of camaraderie usually only seen during national calamities–strangers talked to strangers on the Metro, in restaurants, on the streets. For the enviro and cleantech community, a celebratory highlight came the night before the inauguration, at the Green Ball. Vote Solar was on the host committee. To walk the walk, I tried to dress appropriately. My tuxedo, for example, was definitely recycled. It clearly had been to several proms before.

The party was a lot like one of Vote Solar’s parties, except it was held in the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian instead of a nightclub, and there were a lot more famous people. Al Gore, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Van Jones preached to the largely converted. If you are unfamiliar with Van Jones, you should crawl out from under that rock you call home, and read this profile in the recent New Yorker. I was actually at the meeting Elizabeth Kolbert recounts–while I was reduced to squinting stinkeyes at the fatuous few who hijacked the agenda, Van was somehow able to turn the tables and walk out of there with Speaker Pelosi, fist in the air, chanting “Clean Energy Jobs Now” in front of TV cameras. It was really rather amazing.

I digress. The lineup of musicians was fantastic. Artists included John Legend, Maroon 5, Michael Franti and Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame. As part of her set, Melissa Etheridge drew rousing cheers with the declaration that “you can always tell when a Democrat’s about to take the White House; the parties are better.” While cleantech is of course a bi-partisan issue, I wonder how she knows? Somehow I don’t think she was playing four years ago.

I almost tripped over General Wesley Clark, and saw John Cusack. I asked him for my two dollars, but in true Browning joke tradition, I found myself funnier than he did.

Vote Solar and friends fete our new President Obama. From left: Shaun Chapman, Annie Carmichael, Alexander Rose (The Long Now Foundation), Rosalind Jackson, Gwen Rose, Adam Browning, Polly Shaw (Suntech).