2023 Solar Energy Innovation Network Symposium: Exploring Visions for Equitable Solar Adoption

June 26, 2023 by Kamyria Coney

The 2023 SEIN Symposium, Exploring Visions for Equitable Solar Adoption, took place in downtown Denver, Colorado, April 12–14. Nearly 150 stakeholders—including community-based organizations, developers, nonprofits, local governments, regulators, and academics—participated. Over the past year, the SEIN Round 3 teams have been focused on overcoming barriers to equitable adoption of solar in their communities. With an emphasis on residential and commercial-scale solar, SEIN teams have identified barriers and developed novel approaches for equitable solar solutions.

During the symposium, we focused on:

• Creating a space for organizations to connect with other stakeholders that are also committed to advancing equitable solar solutions
• Exchanging insights with the SEIN Round 3 team members
• Taking actionable ideas and opportunities for collaboration and partnership that drive equitable solar in their own community.

Meeting and Connecting With Stakeholders

What a feeling it was to sit in a room with nearly 150 individuals looking for solutions to equitable solar adoption. With such a complex and important topic, stakeholders could dive deeper into key challenges and opportunities facing their communities. During the participant-hosted conversations session, participants discussed challenges and successes they've encountered. Some conversations included integrated solar projects, mutual aid through solar, financing and legal technical assistance, and understanding regulatory and policy landscapes in solar.

Exchanging Insights

The SEIN Round 3 teams have been working hard to develop innovative ideas and approaches to overcome barriers to equitable solar adoption. SEIN teams shared their challenges, insights, and lessons learned. Some challenges held in common across the teams included:

• Lower wealth of residents relative to typical solar adopters
• Managing gentrification pressures while pursuing community goals
• Complexity of navigating opportunities and incentives
• Approaches to financing that retain community leadership or ownership.

SEIN teams highlighted solutions under development, including best practices of workforce development training, implementation of solar ambassadors in communities, and finding ways to educate residents on the benefits of solar while addressing community concerns and challenges.

Takeaway Actionable Ideas and Opportunities

"Collective challenge, collective solution" was a phrase mentioned during the symposium. There was a sense of relief and connectedness with others that are facing similar challenges.

And after 3 days of connecting with others and hearing from SEIN teams, symposium guests relayed the information they learned back to their organizations, excited to apply new approaches to their solar projects in their communities.

The 2023 SEIN Symposium provided not only an opportunity for the SEIN teams to share and provide invaluable insights to equitable solar solutions but also allowed a space for various voices to be heard, understood, and uplifted. Check out the video to hear firsthand from a few symposium guests.