Climate Activists Host Neighbors, Local Legislators for First-Ever 'Solar Home & Winery Tour' in Loudoun County

Last Saturday in Loudoun County, dozens of Loudoun residents, including legislators and local government officials found out that they do!

Residents across Northern Virginia are taking the initiative to fight climate change in their backyards -- by installing solar panels and energy efficiency upgrades to their homes. During the first annual “Loudoun Solar Home & Winery Tour,” climate activists hosted their neighbors, local elected officials, and state delegates and senators at solar-powered homes across the county, while discussing ways that Virginia’s General Assembly can act to help more homeowners harness this clean energy resource. Elected officials who attended the tour included state Delegate Randy Minchew and State Senator Jennifer Wexton. The office of Leesburg Mayor, Kristen Umstattd, also stopped by the tour, as well as local town councilpersons Marty Martinez and Kelly Burke.

At tour stop #2, Leesburg homeowner Karen Morgan explained why she and her husband installed solar photovoltaic panels. “We installed our solar panels to offset the carbon footprint of our electric vehicle and to lower our electric bills. We are happy to have been on the tour to show off our installation, especially to our elected officials and town council members. It was great to have them in person at my home to ask questions and become more aware of the clean energy options already installed in their districts.”

Virginia has enough solar potential to power one million homes; however, the state currently has the lowest installed solar power capacity in the Mid-Atlantic region. Thanks in large part to lobbying by Dominion Virginia Power and Appalachian Power Company, Virginia state laws and regulations include a series of caps, taxes, and other barriers on the development of customer-owned solar installations, making it difficult for most Virginians to affordably access this clean energy technology.

“It be nice to have more state incentives to make the energy changes we want to make. All the houses in Loudoun should be able to have solar, but we need more state laws to make that a reality,” said Lilia Boyd, Sterling resident who attended the tour.

The tour concluded at Sunset Hills Vineyard, which generates enough electricity to fully operate the entire facility.

The Loudoun County Solar Tour was sponsored by 350 Loudoun, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and the Sterling Foundation. 350 Loudoun, a local chapter of 350.org, is dedicated to building an awareness of human-induced climate change among the residents and businesses of Loudoun County. The Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the region’s oldest and largest grassroots climate advocacy nonprofit. The Sterling Foundation is a non-profit working at the grass roots level to promote environmental stewardship.

For questions please contact Ben Glenzer at bglenzer@solarsolutionsforall.com.