America Supports Solar’s “Shout out for Solar Day”

January 24, 2014

SEIA 40th Anniversary

Objective

92 percent of Americans feel it’s important to develop more solar energy resources, according to a poll by Hart Research Associates. Our objective is to show the broad support of solar energy in America, build enthusiasm for expanding solar nationwide and drive awareness of solar’s record-breaking year in 2013. 

Overview

Shout Out for Solar will take place on SEIA’s 40th Anniversary, Jan. 24, 2014. It will also mark the launch of America Supports Solar, an ongoing campaign to build support for solar and educate Americans, legislators and policy makers on the importance of our nation’s most abundant energy resource. Shout Out for Solar Day is an opportunity for solar’s supporters across the country to speak out – through social media, earned media and other opportunities.

Target Participants

Federal and State solar supporters

            White House

Congress

Department of Energy

            State Elected Officials

Solar Allies*

            Environmental Supporters

            Grassroots/Advocacy Organizations

Corporate Solar Users

SEIA PR Committee*

SEIA membership

Non-SEIA members

*See appendix

TIMELINE

Early December

• Outreach to target participants begins
• PR Committee begins America Supports Solar photo campaign
• Web designer acquired and design work begins
• Emails to Solar Allies, coordinating media strategy
• Begin planning Jan. 10 breakfast meeting with Solar Allies

First week of January

• Thunderclap sign-up begins, targeting 200 pre-programmed shares on Facebook and Twitter for Jan. 24
• Outreach to SEIA members begins through weekly newsletter
• Banner placed on SEIA homepage, Facebook page, and Twitter background announcing upcoming Shout Out for Solar Day
• SEIA Government Affairs staff begins in-person outreach to targeted supporters
• Outreach to Corporate Solar Users
• Letter from SEIA and World Wildlife Fund requesting White House to “flip the switch” on solar panels
• Outreach on SEIA Committee and Division calls begin

January 10                            

• Solar Allies Breakfast at SEIA
• Formal email to Federal and State supporters asking for participation

January 16

• Email to grassroots lists announcing Shout out for Solar day
• Emails to email lists of solar companies and allies. 

January 17

• Email to Federal and State supporters with suggested text for record
• Advertising on target blogs/websites begins
• Advertising on Facebook begins

January 21                            

• America Supports Solar website complete
• 100 photos from “I support solar” photo campaign up on website
• Emails from solar companies and Solar Allies sent to their networks announcing Shout out for Solar Day
   

January 24                            

• Shout out for Solar Day      
• Launch of America Supports Solar website
• Congressional one-minute statements and letters for Congressional record
• State proclamations
• Thunderclap launched
• Engage all participants on social media
• White House “flips the switch” on solar panels

Post-January 24

• Records collected and placed on America Supports Solar site
• Photos and videos streamed on America Supports Solar
• Continued social media engagement
• Results from The Solar Foundation’s National Jobs Census 2013 released

Appendix

1. SEIA PR Committee

Abengoa Solar

All Earth Renewables

Applied Materials

Borrego Solar Systems

Brightsource

Clean Power Finance

DuPont Electronics & Communicaitons

E.ON

Enphase Energy

First Solar

GE Financial Services

Honda

Mainstream Energy

NRG

Recurrent Energy

Schletter

Sempra Generation

Socore Energy

SolarCity

Standard Solar

Sun Run

SunEdison

Sungevity

Sunpower

Sunrun

Tenaska

Trina Solar

Verengo Solar

Vivint Solar

Yingli Americas

2. Solar Allies (Current List)

350.org

Advanced Biofuels Association

Advanced Energy Economy

Alaska Energy Authority

Alliance for Renewable Energy

American Council on Renewable Energy

American Institute of Architects

American Solar Energy Society

American Wind Energy Association

AriSEIA

Arizona Interfaith Power & Light

Blue Green Alliance

Bob Lawrence & Associates

Breakthrough Technologies Institute/ Fuel Cells 2000

Business Council for Sustainable Energy

CalSEIA

Canadian Solar Industries Association

Carbon War Room

Center for American Progress

Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies

Center for Resource Solutions

Center for Sustainable Energy

Central Arizona Renewable Energy Network

CEREs

Clean Air Council

Clean Air-Cool Planet

Clean Energy Project

Climate Policy Initiative

Connecticut Energy Finance & Investment Authority

CoSEIA

Defenders of Wildlife

Earth Day Network

Earth Justice

Energy Action Coalition

Energy Foundation

Energy Future Coalition

Energy Justice Network

Energy Trust of Oregon

Environment America

Environment Massachusetts

Environmental and Energy Study Institute

Environmental Defense Fund

Environmental Law and Policy Center

Environmental Law Institute

Florida Solar Energy Industries Association

Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association

Georgetown Climate Center at Georgetown Law

GeorgiaSEIA

Global Green

Glover Park Group

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

Green Energy War

Greenpeace

Gulf Coast Renewable Energy Industries Association

Hawaii Solar Energy Association

Hawaii Solar Energy Association

Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

Interwest Energy Alliance

IREC

League of Conservation Voters

MDV-SEIA

Methanol Institute

Michigan Environmental Council

Michigan Land Use Institute

Minnesota Solar Energy Industries Association

MOSEIA

MSEIA

National Association of Manufacturers

National Hydropower Association

Natural Resources Defense Council

Navigant Consulting

New England Clean Energy Council

New Jersey Clean Energy Program

New York Restoration Project

New York State Energy Research & Development Authority

NextSun Energy

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

North Carolina Sustainable Industries Association

Northeast Sustainable Energy Association

Northern Michigan Environmental Action Council

NYSEIA

Ohio Environmental Council

Ohio's Advanced Energy Fund

Organization

OSEIA

PA Sustainable Development Fund

PACE University Law Center

PennEnvironment

PennFuture

Renew the Earth

Renewable Energy Markets Association

Rockefeller Foundation Initiative

Rocky Mountain Institute

Sierra Club

SmartPower

Solar Energy Business Association of New England

Solar Foundation

SolarTech

Sonoran Institute

Southern Alliance for Clean Energy

Sustainable Arizona

Sustainable Economic Development Initiative (?)

TenneSEIA

The Wilderness Society

Third Way

TREIA

Union of Concerned Scientists

United Steel Workers

Vermont Clean Energy Development Fund

Vote Solar

Western Resources Advocates

Wisconsin Focus on Energy Program

WiSEIA

World Wildlife Foundation