Vote Solar 2013 Annual Report: Vote Solar is a non-profit organization working to bring solar energy into the mainstream across the U.S.

1. Vote Solar
2013 Annual Report
Contents
Letter from the E.D.. . . . . 2
Policy Objectives . . . . . . 3
How We Work . . . . . . . . .4
2013 Highlights . . . . . . . .5
Our Team . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Funding Sources . . . . . . 10
Get Involved . . . . . . . . . 10
Vote Solar is a non-profit grassroots
organization working to foster
economic opportunity, promote
energy independence and fight
climate change by making solar a
mainstream energy resource across
the United States.

2. FriendsWe have a lot to celebrate. 2013 was a tremendous year--one that will go
down in the history books as an inflection point for solar.
Letter from the
Executive Director,
Adam Browning
Consider: in one year, several states effectively transitioned -- as planned
-- off of incentives to thriving solar markets that are at retail grid parity.
When is the last time you’ve heard an industry cheer the end of incentives?
In California, more rooftop solar was installed in 2013 than in the previous
30 years combined and the state is on track to be at least 10% solar, on an
energy basis, by 2020. For the first time in 15 years, the US is likely to
install more solar than Germany, with an expected 27% increase to 4.3
GW. Wholesale utility solar is, in many places, cheaper than building new
coal or nuclear plants, allowing utilities to go big on renewables without
breaking the bank. One utility, Palo Alto Municipal, is on track to be 18%
solar. And it’s not just the usual suspects: states like Georgia and
Minnesota launched big solar programs in 2013.
Energy policy doesn’t make itself: we are proud of the role we’ve played
in all this success. Vote Solar has 13 staff, working every day (and too
many nights), on our goal of bringing solar into the mainstream. In 2013,
we intervened in 28 dockets to improve solar regulations in 13 states; ran
high profile public campaigns in six states to secure important solar wins;
rallied citizens to submit over 76,000 messages to key local decisionmakers in support of pro-solar policies; hired new staff in Boston to ramp
our work on the East Coast; helped deliver three innovative new shared
solar programs; launched a new campaign to reduce permitting soft costs;
brought on GroupEnergy to reduce customer acquisition cost by
organizing group solar purchases; and went big prepping the future for
renewable grid-integration, working on electric vehicles, storage, and
energy imbalance markets.
It was a busy year for us, and – not coincidentally - a busy year for our
opponents. It’s worth noting: despite the all the attacks on solar in 2013 -both wholesale and distributed -- the good guys remain undefeated. But
the challenges ahead loom large: in 2014, we expect a redoubling of
efforts to roll-back progress, backed by the deep pockets of the Edison
Electric Institute and the American Legislative Exchange Council, amongst
others. To take them on, we have a plan to double in size over the next 3
years. Our theory of change remains the same. We’ll use our tried-andtrue combination of technical expertise and grassroots organizing to focus
on reducing solar costs and increasing solar access.
Finally, we’d like to express our continued gratitude for the collaboration
and camaraderie of our funders, partners, and friends along the way. The
task we (and that’s the collective ‘we’) have taken on is a big one -essentially, create a new industry to fundamentally change how the world
is powered. But given the stakes, there’s nothing else we’d rather be
doing.
Onwards.
2

3. 2
1
Priority Issues:
Renewable Portfolio
Standards & utility
procurement
Net energy metering
Electricity rate design
Interconnection standards
Local permitting
Shared solar programs
Grid integration
Group solar purchasing
PACE & other financing
solutions
3
Solar generation accounts
for one percent of our
national energy mix,
largely because cost and
regulatory barriers stand in
the way. Vote Solar works
to overcome those hurdles
for both distributed and
large-scale solar power.
Each market type has its
own advantages and
specific policy needs.
Distributed rooftop systems
located at or near where
electricity is consumed
don’t require utilities to
invest in expensive new
transmission infrastructure.
And they can be used by
individuals, businesses and
others to reduce their
power bills and their
carbon footprints in one fell
swoop.
With good grid planning
and operation, large-scale
solar presents an exciting
opportunity to bring solar
into our energy mix at
entirely new economies of
scale. We believe that this
country needs both in order
to successfully address the
very real energy and
climate challenges we face.
Vote Solar focuses on
policies and programs that
make solar of all kinds more
accessible and more
affordable to more
Americans. We aim to solve
this equation:
cost + access = scale.

4. How We Work
We work with policymakers:
Policy leaders across the country are showing unprecedented
support for cleaner, cost effective energy. But solar policy is
complex and changing all the time. We help regulators and
legislators understand their policy options, quantify the costs and
benefits, draft legislation, and implement the programs that are
going to most effectively support a solar market that benefits
individuals, businesses, and communities alike.
We work with other advocates:
We aim to transform one of this country’s most powerful
industries, and we can’t do it alone. We make the most of our own
limited resources and those of our skilled advocacy peers by
collaborating wherever possible. Whether it’s sharing our deep
policy design expertise or highlighting best practices from the
successful efforts of others, we provide the tools, guidance and
support needed to help others make a difference in their own
communities and nationwide.
We work with people:
We are a grassroots organization with approximately 60,000
members in all 50 states. Our social media channels reach 26,000
fans and followers. We help our members and others stay
informed about the latest in solar policy through emails, blog
posts, social media, webinars and strategic press outreach. When
it’s time to take action, we mobilize our supporters and give them
the easy tools they need to make their voices heard to
policymakers.
4
We commit for the
long-term:
Each solar law and
program
successfully
enacted requires
sustained attention
to make sure it is
implemented
correctly, operating
effectively,
protected from
opposing interests,
and amended when
necessary. We stay
the course and
maintain watchdog
vigilance to make
sure positive
progress is made.

5. 3
2
1
Campaign Highlights
2013:
Net Metering and Rate
Design:
It’s
an
exciting
time
in
the
electricity
marketplace.
Affordable
solar
is
offering
American
homes,
schools
and
businesses
a
viable
alternative
to
utility
power
—
and
consumers
are
choosing
solar
in
record
numbers.
For
the
first
time
in
a
century,
customer
demand
is
driving
real
competition
in
the
power
sector
and
challenging
the
old
centralized
utility
business
model.
Rather
than
innovating
to
serve
the
needs
of
today’s
market,
many
utilities
are
choosing
to
dig
in
and
regulate
against
rooftop
solar.
In
2013,
we
counted
more
than
a
dozen
states
that
considered
utility-­‐driven
changes
to
their
net
metering
programs
and
rate
design
with
the
end
goal
of
making
solar
inaccessible
to
their
customers.
Vote
Solar
launched
a
new
home
on
the
Internet
to
help
our
coalition
combat
this
onslaught
of
anti-­‐net
metering
attacks.
OurSolarRights.org
features
fact
sheets
and
other
general
resources,
updates
on
the
most
critical
fights
from
around
the
country,
and
a
neat
animation
to
help
explain
it
all.
In
addition
to
national
coordination,
we
also
led
and
supported
m any
of
the
ground
fights
in
states
across
the
country.
With
grassroots,
press
and
policy
support
from
Vote
Solar,
California
passed
A B
327,
a
utility
rate
reform
bill
that
creates
m ore
certainty
for
consumers
who
want
to
go
solar
with
a
number
of
important
provisions
for
net
metering.
California’s
net
metering
program
is
currently
rather
arbitrarily
capped
at
5
percent
of
utilities’
peak
load
–
beyond
which
the
utilities
are
no
longer
required
to
provide
net
metering
credit
for
that
valuable
5
clean
energy
being
generated
by
new
solar
customers.
Before
the
bill
was
signed,
the
state
regulators
at
the
CPUC
were
considering
suspending
the
program
as
soon
as
the
end
of
2014.
AB
327
ensures
that
California’s
net
metering
program
will
stay
in
place
until
customers
of
the
three
large
utilities
hit
the
existing
5
percent
program
cap,
likely
around
2016
or
2017.
This
bill
also
directs
the
CPUC
to
ensure
that
after
the
existing
5
percent
program
cap
has
been
met,
rooftop
solar
customers
will
continue
to
receive
some
form
of
fair
credit
on
their
utility
bills
for
the
clean
energy
they
send
back
to
the
grid
with
no
future
cap.
If
the
CPUC
designs
a
post-­‐5
percent
program
that
continues
to
compensate
solar
customers
fairly
for
the
valuable
power
they’re
delivering
to
the
grid,
we’ll
keep
seeing
steady
growth
in
rooftop
solar
throughout
the
state,
generating
jobs
and
clean
air
benefits
for
all
Californians.
Also
exciting,
the
bill
allows
the
CPUC
to
require
the
big
utilities
to
go
beyond
our
current
Renewables
Portfolio
Standard,
the
statewide
target
of
getting
33%
of
our
utility
power
from
renewable
energy
by
2020.
This
bill
makes
33%
renewables
a
floor
and
not
a
ceiling,
which
is
a
huge
step
in
fighting
climate
change
and
protecting
public
health.
In
a
victory
of
David
vs
Goliath
proportions,
policymakers
in
Arizona
stood
up
for
their
citizens
by
rejecting
an
attempt
from
the
state’s
largest
utility
to
squash
rooftop
solar.
APS
had
proposed
a
new
$50-­‐100
monthly
charge
for
solar
customers,
a
discriminatory
fee
that
would
have
wiped
out
any
savings
these
customers
would
currently
receive
from
their
solar
investment.
The
utility
and
its
allies
spent
m illions
of
dollars
in
anti-­‐
solar
advertising
to
try
to
sway
popular
opinion.
Vote
Solar
intervened
in
the
proceeding
to
question
the
utility
math
and
helped
engage
grassroots
solar
supporters.
Five
months
after
Arizona
Public
Service
(APS)
sought
approval
for
this
hefty
new
fee,
the
Arizona
Corporation
Commission
(ACC)
voted
to
uphold
Arizona
solar
savings
by
approving
significantly
reduced
fixed
charge
of
70
cents
per
kw.
While
the
vote
was
clearly
a
win
for
Arizonans,
the
ACC’s
approval
of
a
small
but
troubling
new
fee
m akes
it
clear
that
there
is
a
significant
amount
of
education
left
to
be
done
regarding
distributed
solar’s
tremendous
value.
Just
in
time
for
Independence
Day,
rooftop
solar
rights
scored
another
win.
This
one
from
Idaho
where
the
state’s
major
utility,
Idaho
Power
Company
(IPCo)
had
set
out
to
cap
its
net
metering
program
and
otherwise
penalize
solar
customers
by
changing
their
rates
and
implementing
new
fees.
Vote
Solar
participated
in
the
case
on
behalf
of
the
City
of
Boise,
which
was
rightly
concerned
that
the
IPCo’s
proposals
would
discourage
not
only
the
installation
of
solar
resources
but
also
new
clean
energy
businesses
from
coming
to
Idaho,
resulting
in
job
and
economic
losses.
On
July
3rd,
the
Commission
stood
strong
for
Idaho’s
rooftop
solar
customers
by
rejecting
all
of
IPCo’s
egregious
proposals.
In
Colorado,
the
state’s
major
utility
Xcel
Energy
also
took
aim
at
rooftop
solar,
using
flawed
math
to
weaken
the
state’s
popular
net
metering
program.
Vote
Solar
fought
back
on
two
fronts
with
both
regulatory
and
public
campaigns.
Our
public
efforts
culminated
in
a
rally
at
Xcel
headquarters
to
show
that
the
utility’s
own
customers
oppose
the
proposal.
Nearly
300
Coloradans
and
a
slew
of
press
converged
in
Denver
that
day
to
stand
up
for
solar
rights.
The
energetic
crowd
braved
wintery
temperatures
to
deliver
nearly
30,000
petition
signatures
from
Coloradans
urging
Xcel
to
withdraw
its
unfair
proposal
and
keep

6. 3
1
2
Colorado
solar
shining.
It
was
an
impressive
display
of
local
support
for
net
metering
and
our
message
was
heard
loud
and
clear,
but
the
fight’s
not
over
yet!
State
regulators
will
make
a
decision
on
the
Xcel
proposal
in
2014.
It
wasn’t
all
defense
against
utilities
on
the
net
metering
front.
In
anticipation
of
an
explosion
of
solar
growth
from
Governor
Cuomo’s
NY-­‐Sun
Initiative,
the
New
York
Public
Service
Commission
raised
the
state’s
net
metering
cap
from
1
to
3
percent.
That
means
that
the
state’s
utilities
are
now
required
to
offer
net
metering
benefits
for
three
times
as
much
clean,
local,
reliable
solar
power
produced
by
their
customers.
GroupEnergy:
Vote
Solar
added
a
new
GroupEnergy
project
focused
on
propelling
solar
adoption
by
helping
existing
groups
–
think
coworkers,
clubs
or
congregations
–
pool
their
collective
purchasing
power
to
go
solar
at
home.
Our
unique
take
on
the
group
purchase
model
helps
build
solar
awareness
and
lower
solar
soft
costs
in
one
fell
swoop.
Looking
back
on
a
busy
2013,
we’re
happy
to
report
that
it
was
a
great
year
for
GroupEnergy.
The
team
was
busy
launching
programs
for
major
employers
including:
the
State
of
Colorado,
the
City
and
County
of
Denver,
the
City
and
County
of
San
Francisco,
Blue
Shield
of
California,
eBay,
Genentech,
Pacific
Gas
&
Electric,
6
and
the
University
of
California
at
San
Francisco.
Approximately
900
kilowatts
of
new
residential
solar
will
be
installed
on
almost
200
homes
as
a
result
of
this
year’s
GroupEnergy
work.
That’s
nearly
a
megawatt!
It
doesn’t
just
sound
cool;
that’s
a
whole
lot
of
new
residential
solar
in
just
a
few
months.
A nd,
because
buying
in
bulk
delivers
greater
scale
and
lower
customer
acquisition
costs
to
solar
providers
–
that’s
also
solar
with
a
low
price
tag.
All
told,
these
programs
helped
m ore
than
2,000
individuals
evaluate
whether
powering
their
homes
with
sunshine
could
be
a
good
fit.
In
our
view,
this
educational
outcome
is
just
as
exciting
as
the
new
solar
itself.
These
are
peers
and
friends
who
are
navigating
the
potentially
daunting
process
of
going
solar
together
–
with
our
expert
guidance.
Whether
or
not
they
end
up
going
solar
now,
program
participants
come
away
armed
with
the
information
they
need
become
solar
educators
and
advocates
in
their
own
right.
Grid Integration: Our
power
grid
is
currently
managed
by
individual
utilities
matching
consumption
and
production
within
their
territory
in
real
time.
W ithout
a
change
of
approach,
this
balancing
act
will
become
increasingly
challenging
as
more
variable
solar
and
wind
is
used
to
power
our
grid.
But
increasing
the
geographic
area
across
which
the
utilities
coordinate
can
help
make
a
renewable-­‐powered
grid
a
cost
effective,
reliable
and
highly
achievable
endeavor.
In
wonk-­‐talk,
that’s
a
regional
energy
imbalance
market
or
EIM,
and
it’s
been
a
focus
of
Vote
Solar’s
grid
integration
advocacy.
The
EIM
will
allow
utilities
across
the
region
to
share
generation
resources
and
significantly
lower
the
cost
of
keeping
the
lights
on
with
significant
new
levels
of
solar
and
wind.
This
cooperative
approach
eliminates
the
need
for
each
utility
to
operate
and
maintain
costly
generation
that
it
doesn’t
need
all
the
time.
It
also
allows
them
to
better
plan
for
and
use
variable
solar
and
wind
generation,
which
m ay
be
lumpy
within
individual
utility
balancing
areas
due
to
local
weather
conditions
and
the
like
–
but
is
smoother
and
more
predictable
when
assessed
across
bigger
geographic
areas.
The
regional
EIM
makes
the
most
efficient
use
of
combined
resources
can
significantly
lower
the
cost
of
integrating
these
renewable
resources
on
the
grid.
It
requires
traditional
energy
players
to
rethink
grid
operation,
but
its
benefits
are
well
worth
the
work.
In
February,
the
CAISO
and
PacifiCorp,
which
serves
1.8
million
customers
in
six
western
states,
announced
they
had
entered
into
a
memorandum
of
understanding
to
develop
a
west-­‐wide
EIM.
Then
in
November,
Nevada’s
biggest
utility
–
NV
Energy
–
indicated
it
would
seek
regulatory
approval
to
join
up
as
well.
NV
Energy’s
decision
adds
much
needed
momentum
to
this
nascent
regional
effort.
A
study
by
PacifiCorp
and
CAISO
showed
millions
of
dollars
in
savings
for
customers
in
California
and
PacifiCorp’s
service
areas,
and
even
more
substantial
savings
and
benefits
can
be
achieved
if
m ore
utilities
join.
The
ultimate
goal
is
to
have
all
of
the
utilities
in
the
Western
Interconnection
—
which
covers
all
or
parts
of
13
states,
two
Canadian
provinces
and
a
small
part
of
the
Baja
California
Peninsula
—
join
the
EIM
and
take
this
low-­‐cost
approach
to
the
grid
integration
challenge.

7. 3
2
1
Shared Renewables:
Despite
tremendous
growth
in
solar
adoption
nationwide,
the
majority
of
energy
consumers
–
including
renters
–
are
simply
unable
to
invest
in
their
own
on-­‐site
solar
energy
systems.
Shared
solar
arrangements
overcome
that
barrier.
2013
was
a
big
year
for
shared
renewables,
with
the
passage
of
two
major
Vote
Solar-­‐supported
programs
designed
to
unlock
pent
up
demand
for
clean
energy
among
customers
who
are
unable
to
put
solar
on
their
own
property.
California’s
Governor
Brown
signed
Senate
Bill
43,
which
will
requires
the
three
big
utilities
–
PG&E,
SCE,
and
SDG&E–
to
collectively
procure
as
much
as
600MW
of
new
renewable
energy
from
within
their
respective
territories,
and
enable
customers
to
sign
up
to
receive
up
to
100%
of
their
energy
from
these
clean
local
sources.
Backed
by
Vote
Solar
from
the
start,
the
successful
two-­‐year
SB
43
campaign
was
widely
supported
by
business,
military,
and
environmental
justice
groups.
The
DC
Council
unanimously
approved
a
shared
solar
program
this
year
as
well.
It’s
clear
the
District
is
proud
of
this
program
and
sees
it
as
a
m odel
for
others.
Electric
utility
Pepco
worked
diligently
with
stakeholders
to
design
the
program,
likely
in
recognition
that
it
would
help
the
District
meet
its
RPS
targets
by
tapping
an
entirely
new
solar
market
segment.
The
Community
Renewables
Energy
Act
enables
all
DC
energy
customers
to
get
their
power
from
renewable
energy
projects
within
DC,
up
to
5MW
in
size.
The
program
is
uncapped
in
total
capacity,
and
participants
receive
credit
for
their
share
of
the
clean
energy
generation
at
a
pre-­‐set
rate
that
local
developers
say
will
m ake
the
financials
work.
While
the
basic
shared
solar
concept
is
a
no-­‐brainer,
the
policy
details
to
make
it
happen
can
get
pretty
complicated.
We
worked
closely
with
our
partners
at
IREC
to
draft
new
Model
Program
Rules
for
Shared
Renewable
Energy
that
reflect
best
practices
and
lessons
learned
from
the
early
days
of
shared
renewables.
Based
on
real
legislative
and
regulatory
experience,
the
updated
model
rules
serve
as
a
starting
point
for
states,
communities,
and
utilities
interested
in
launching
shared
renewables
programs.
Vote
Solar
also
launched
a
new
website
–
sharedrenewables.org
–
to
help
track
policy
and
progress
nationwide.
Market Building:
Capping
over
five
years
of
campaigning
from
Vote
Solar
and
our
stalwart
partners,
New
York
finished
2013
well
on
its
way
to
a
3
GW,
10-­‐year
extension
of
its
landmark
solar
policy:
the
NY-­‐Sun
Initiative.
That
impressive
goal
is
10
times
the
amount
of
solar
PV
currently
installed
in
the
state!
With
strong
leadership
from
Governor
Cuomo,
the
Public
Service
Commission
approved
funding
for
the
incentive
program
through
2015
and
directed
program
administrators
at
NYSERDA
to
submit
a
plan
for
the
program
through
2023.
This
will
provide
invaluable
policy
certainty
for
solar
companies
and
consumers
alike
as
New
York
continues
its
charge
to
solar
scale.
NYSERDA
was
also
authorized
to
make
plans
to
transition
the
incentive
program
into
a
regional
megawatt
block
structure
where
incentive
levels
decline
in
a
predictable
fashion
as
costs
come
down
and
more
solar
is
deployed
across
the
state.
As
we’ve
seen
in
California,
this
kind
of
transparent,
capacity-­‐based
incentive
structure
can
be
an
incredibly
power
tool
for
driving
scale
and
lowering
costs
in
a
way
that’s
both
sustainable
and
cost-­‐
effective.
Taking
the
state’s
clean
energy
commitment
further,
NYSERDA
released
a
bold
vision
to
drive
private
clean
energy
investments
through
Governor
Cuomo’s
$1
billion
Green
Bank.
NYSERDA
also
began
a
comprehensive
review
of
the
state’s
Renewable
Portfolio
Standard
and
Energy
Efficiency
Portfolio
Standard,
which
set
the
stage
for
possible
extension
of
these
programs
beyond
their
current
2015
horizon.
Policy
progress
of
this
scale
doesn’t
come
easily
in
the
solar
world.
New
York’s
2013
outcomes
make
the
five
previous
years
of
policy
analysis,
reports,
grassroots
engagement,
press
outreach,
m eetings,
heartache
and
celebration
well
worth
it!
Up
north,
the
Minnesota
legislature
also
passed
a
substantial
solar
energy
bill
that
will
result
in
hundreds
of
megawatts
of
new
solar
over
the
next
6
years
and
jump-­‐start
a
solar
m arket
in
the
state.
With
strong
local
partners
leading
the
charge
on
the
ground,
Vote
Solar
lent
our
policy
expertise
and
helped
bring
national
attention
to
the
campaign.

8. 2
1
proud
that
Freeing
the
Grid’s
grading
methodology
was
also
adopted
for
use
in
the
U.S.
Department
of
Energy’s
SunShot
Initiative,
which
aims
to
reduce
the
cost
of
going
solar
by
75%
before
the
end
of
the
decade.
Four
states
achieved
excellence
in
both
net
metering
and
interconnection
policies
this
year:
California,
Massachusetts,
Oregon
and
Utah.
These
states
lead
the
nation
in
allowing
customer
participation
in
the
renewable
energy
market.
Big
congrats
to
them!
Project Permit:
Few
realize
how
much
of
an
impact
local
governments
can
have
on
the
cost
of
going
solar.
But
with
solar
panel
prices
having
dropped
fast
and
far
over
the
past
few
years,
“soft”
costs
like
local
permitting
represent
the
most
significant
opportunity
for
keeping
solar
prices
trending
down.
Today,
more
than
18,000
m unicipalities
each
set
their
own
permitting
requirements
for
residential
solar
energy
systems.
As
a
result,
permitting
requirements
vary
dramatically
city
by
city.
Long
waits,
high
fees,
excessive
inspections,
avoidable
paperwork
and
non-­‐standard
practices
across
different
jurisdictions
can
all
add
unnecessary
costs
to
what
should
be
a
simple,
transparent
process.
To
help
tackle
this
challenge,
Vote
Solar
launched
our
new
Project
Permit,
an
interactive
website
that
scores
local
permitting
practices
to
help
lower
solar
costs
across
the
country.
It’s
designed
to
help
solar
stakeholders,
municipal
officials,
and
people
like
you
understand
how
their
town’s
permitting
practices
stack
up
and
what
can
be
done
to
improve
them.
Freeing the Grid:
Vote
Solar
and
our
friends
at
IREC
released
Freeing
the
Grid,
our
annual
report
card
to
all
50
states
on
net
metering
and
interconnection
–
two
wonky
sounding
policies
that
make
sure
energy
customers
get
fair
and
consistent
treatment
from
their
utilities
when
they
want
to
generate
their
own
power.
We
are
in
the
midst
of
a
transition
to
the
era
of
mainstream
renewables
that
gives
Americans
control
over
their
power
supply
and
energy
bills
like
never
before.
It’s
an
exciting
time;
however,
policy
design
on
the
frontiers
of
our
fast-­‐
changing
clean
energy
marketplace
can
be
a
challenge
to
get
right.
Now
in
its
7th
year,
Freeing
the
Grid
is
designed
to
help
policymakers
and
other
stakeholders
make
better
sense
of
best
practices
and
what
needs
to
be
done
in
their
own
state
to
clear
the
way
for
a
21st
century
approach
to
energy.
We’re
Solar Means Business:
Our
nation’s
businesses
are
harnessing
clean,
reliable,
homegrown
solar
power
at
an
unprecedented
rate
to
take
control
of
their
energy
costs
and
improve
their
bottom
line.
We
just
released
Solar
Means
Business,
an
annual
report
from
Vote
Solar
and
our
partners
at
SEIA
that
identifies
the
companies
that
are
leading
America’s
transition
to
solar
power
–
and
the
list
might
surprise
you!
Mainstream
brands
like
Walmart,
Costco,
Kohl’s,
Apple,
IKEA
and
Macy’s
rank
among
our
nation’s
top
solar
customers.
Most
of
these
companies
are
better
known
for
delivering
low-­‐
costs
and
for
serving
millions
of
Americans
than
for
their
equally
impressive
clean
energy
leadership.
These
companies
–
titans
of
American
business
–
may
have
vastly
different
products
and
services,
but
they
all
have
something
in
common:
they
know
a
good
deal
when
they
see
one,
and
they
are
going
solar
in
a
big
way.
Equinox 2013:
Our annual
celebration &
fundraiser was
tiki-tastic!

9. Vote Solar Staff:
Adam Browning, Executive Director: Adam co-founded Vote Solar after working on the successful campaign for
San Francisco’s 2001 solar bond. Prior to Vote Solar, Adam spent eight years with the Environmental Protection
Agency where he ran an award-winning pollution prevention program.
Gwen Rose, Operations Director: Gwen directs Vote Solar’s strategic organizational operations. Her prior work in
Marin County’s solar and climate protection programs earned the “Best Progress in the Western Region” Award from
the Department of Energy’s Million Solar Roofs Initiative.
Annie Lappé, Solar Policy Director: Annie leads state campaigns throughout the West and Midwest. She rejoined
Vote Solar after managing government affairs in the Interior West for SunEdison. She was previously with the Alliance
to Save Energy. She holds environmental policy degrees from Oxford University and UC Santa Cruz.
Rick Gilliam, Director of Research & Analysis: Rick is Vote Solar’s analytical and quantitative powerhouse. He
was formerly Vice President of Mountain West Government Affairs for SunEdison and held prior roles at Western
Resource Advocates, the Public Service Company of Colorado and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(FERC). He lives in Boulder, CO.
Jim Baak, Utility-Scale Solar Policy Director: Jim leads Vote Solar’s utility-scale solar program focused on
developing the market for centralized solar power plants. Jim joined Vote Solar from Pacific Gas & Electric Co., one
of the largest utilities in the U.S.
Rosalind Jackson, Director of Communications & Development: Rosalind supports Vote Solar campaigns and
organizational growth through media, member and donor relations. Rosalind came to Vote Solar with five years of
clean energy public relations experience. She has a degree in Environmental Science and Mass Communications
from UC Berkeley.
Peter Olmsted, Policy Advocate: Based in Pennsylvania, Peter is responsible for advancing solar policy in the
northeast and mid-atlantic region. Peter was previously lead energy policy staff for the Delaware Senate Energy &
Transit Committee. He holds a Masters of Energy and Environmental Policy from the University of Delaware.
Susannah Churchill, Policy Advocate: Susannah directs Vote Solar’s distributed solar advocacy efforts in
California. Prior to joining Vote Solar she was a Senior Regulatory Analyst at the CPUC and an Advisor to a
Commissioner at the CEC. She holds a Masters in Public Policy from UC Berkeley.
Hannah Masterjohn, Policy Advocate: Hannah leads our work on shared solar business models and east coast
states. She previously managed the Solar America Cities program at the Department of Energy. She has degrees in
Environmental Policy and Political Economy from UC Santa Barbara and Clark University. Hannah is based in New
York.
Nathan Phelps, Policy Advocate: Nathan focuses on the regulation of distributed generation. Prior to joining Vote
Solar, Nathan was a Senior Economist at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. Nathan attended Willamette
University for undergraduate studies in both environmental science and politics before attending Tufts University for
graduate studies in environmental policy. He is based in Boston.
Jessie Denver, GroupEnergy Program Director: Jessie previously founded and was CEO of GroupEnergy LLC and
also spent 8 years with the City of San Jose, CA as Energy Officer and Solar Program Coordinator. She has degrees in
Environment & Community Planning from Antioch University and Environmental Science from Humboldt State
University. Jessie is based in Oakland.
Kevin Armstrong, GroupEnergy Program Manager: Kevin co-leads Vote Solar’s GroupEnergy program. He
previously spent two years with the City of San Jose, and two years with the County of San Mateo, managing
municipal renewable energy programs. He has degrees in Civil & Environmental Engineering and City & Regional
Planning from UC Berkeley and Stanford University. Kevin is based in Oakland.
Ashley Malyszka, Development Associate: Ashley supports Vote Solar’s fundraising efforts and donor relations.
Her previous roles include SolarCorps Development Fellow at GRID Alternatives and U.S. Campaigns Associate at
350.org. She holds a bachelors in Environmental Studies from San Francisco State University.

10. Vote Solar is a project of the
Tides Center, a 501(c)3
charitable organization, and
the Tsunami Fund, a 501(c)4
non-profit organization. We
are primarily funded through
the generosity of
grantmaking foundations,
with additional support from
corporate giving, individual
donors and public funds.
2013 Funding Sources
5%
2%
5%
Foundations
9%
Government & Public
Funds
Individual Donors
Corporate Donors
Make a Donation: Vote Solar
welcomes credit card
donations of all sizes online
at: www.votesolar.org.
Donations by check can be
mailed to us at the address
below.
79%
101 Montgomery St, Suite 2600
San Francisco, CA 94104
415.817.5062
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