EIN: 46-2462990
Mission Statement
Solar United Neighbors helps people go solar, join together, and fight for their energy rights.
Program Summary
Education & Support: SUN provides robust national engagement programs designed to educate people about renewable energy free of charge. We provide in-depth explainers about topics like solar 101, electric vehicles, and battery storage. We educated more than 15,000 people in 2024 about solar, renewable technologies, effective advocacy, and more. SUN also operates the nation-wide Solar Help Desk offering information, answers to solar questions, roof review, proposal comparisons, and consumer protection and remediation free of charge. The SUN Solar Help Desk provided support at no cost to more than 37,000 people last year.
Group Purchase Programs: According to the 2020 Residential Energy Consumption Survey, “more than one-fourth of all American households reported experiencing any energy insecurity. About 20% of households reported reducing or forgoing food or medicine to pay energy costs, and 10% of households reported leaving their home at an unhealthy temperature.” SUN brings people together to save money on their solar installations, connect with like-minded individuals, and get guidance from vendor-neutral experts throughout the entire process.These bulk purchase programs result in savings to participants of a 20% average discount. These savings will be increasingly important in the wake of losing the 30% residential tax credit. Our bulk purchasing programs help us identify the most pressing barriers to going solar. We have also rallied our network around broader clean energy issues, helping enact 100% clean energy targets in Virginia and Minnesota, for example.
Low-Income Programs: At SUN, we believe solar is for everyone, regardless of income or location, and we recognize that the energy cost burden is much higher for those in lower-income situations. We have implemented more than 30 income-qualified programs in Virginia and across our 13-state reach. Through these, we have helped more than 400 low-income households go solar and reduced future energy bills by $12.4+ million for low-income homeowners.
Impact Statement
Since 2015, SUN has helped more than 12,500 households go solar, facilitated 104.4 new MW on the grid, reduced future energy bills by $553+ million for homeowners, and supported the creation of 2,442 local jobs nationwide.
In Virginia, SUN has helped more than 1,340 households go solar, 480 in the Arlington area, reducing Virginian’s future energy bills by over $50+ million and supporting the creation of 240+ local jobs.
SUN has a long history of serving the Arlington community. Our first Arlington Solar Co-op (group purchasing program) was in 2015 and we have supported the program every year since. Arlington is also where we piloted SUN’s first EV charging co-op that was the first to offer EV chargers with or without solar.
What ways can the public get involved?
SUN provides opportunities for all ages and abilities to volunteer in their own communities as well as on a national scale. Volunteer opportunities include serving on a local community advisory board or selection committee (all of our work is community-led and community-driven), organizing a community education event or community solar co-op, representing SUN at a community event, contacting legislators in support of solar policy, and much more. SUN currently has 253 activated volunteers in the Arlington area.
How are charitable dollars spent? Where does my donation go?
SUN uses donations to support our free, non-partisan, installer-neutral consumer protection solar education and support programs, including our Solar Help Desk, which provides answers to solar questions, roof review, proposal comparisons, and consumer protection and remediation all free of charge. This resource provided support at no cost to more than 37,000 people last year. A donation of $25 provides 26 individuals with free, one-on-one solar support and guidance. Donations can also allow us to provide low-cost solar to low-income communities when we are able to partner with municipalities or states for additional resources.
Information provided July 2026