About Vote Solar
History
The Vote Solar Initiative was founded after the successful effort to pass a ballot initiative for a $100 million revenue bond in San Francisco in November, 2001. With the goal of building the economies of scale necessary to bring down solar's costs, Vote Solar worked to replicate the model in cities and states around the country. As the solar industry matured, new challenges rose to the forefront, and Vote Solar has expanded its operations accordingly. The fact is, there are serious regulatory roadblocks impeding solar's market development. In order to bring solar to scale, Vote Solar is working at the state level to implement the necessary policies to build robust solar markets — and pave the way for a transition to a renewable energy economy.
Gameplan
America's energy problems — from developing energy independence to fighting global warming — will only be solved by a national transition to renewable energy. Solar energy — clean, homegrown, and renewable — has the potential to play a large part of the solution. It is the fastest growing energy source in the world, but to date, market penetration has only scratched the surface of its potential. In order to bring the technology to scale, we need to bring down costs. Vote Solar works to build the economies of scale necessary to bring solar into the mainstream. We have two program areas: we help cities build large-scale and cost-effective solar projects; and we help states build robust solar markets.
Staff
Adam Browning, Executive Director
After putting in 8 years with the Environmental Protection Agency, Adam worked on the campaign for San Francisco's solar bond, and co-founded the Vote Solar Initiative.
adam@votesolar.org
415.817.5062
Gwen Rose, Deputy Director
Gwen comes to Vote Solar from Marin County's solar and climate protection programs, where her work earned the "Best Progress in the Western Region" Award from the Department of Energy's Million Solar Roofs Program.
gwen@votesolar.org
415.817.5060
Claudia Eyzaguirre
Claudia is a GreenCorps-trained campaigner. She comes to us after two years with Audubon, as the California Chapter Coordinator.
claudia@votesolar.org
415.817.5061
Shaun Chapman, East Coast Campaigns Director
Shaun was previously with Network for New Energy Choices, where he did some great work on net metering. Shaun will be leading our efforts on the East Coast--with a particular focus on New York.
shaun@votesolar.org
646.330.4606
Annie Carmichael
Annie recently finished her masters in environmental policy at Oxford University. Before that she spent several years advocating for energy efficiency policies at the Alliance to Save Energy in Washington, DC.
annie@votesolar.org
415.817.5063
Jim Baak, Utility-Scale Solar Policy Director
Jim left PG&E to join Vote Solar to launch a new initiative focusing on market development for utility-scale solar.
jbaak@votesolar.org
415.817.5064
Address
The Vote Solar Initiative
300 Brannan Street, Suite 609
San Francisco, CA 94107
The Vote Solar Initiative is a fiscally-sponsored project of the Tides Center Through the Tides Center and the Tsunami Fund, Vote Solar has both 501 (c)(3) and 501 (c)(4) non-profit status. Vote Solar has an active Board of Advisors that focuses on policy and strategy.