Sun Day 2025: Communities Rally for Clean Energy and Climate Action

On September 21, 2025, cities across the United States hosted “Sun Day,” a national day of action for renewable energy. The events focused on solar power, fair access, and the push to move past fossil fuels.

Date: Sept. 21–22, 2025 (events and reporting) • Locations: Asheville, NC; Portland, OR; New York, NY • Sources: WLOS (Asheville), KATU (Portland), The Guardian (New York/national)

Asheville, North Carolina: Community, Climate, and Action

In Asheville’s Pack Square Park, Sun Day drew families, volunteers, and advocates. Organizers celebrated the rise of clean power and also talked about climate risks. They handed out acorns to encourage tree growth, a small act with a clear message.

Don Kraus, North Carolina state coordinator for Citizens’ Climate Lobby, urged people to contact local, state, and national representatives. He noted that Hurricane Helene had “10% of its rainfall attributable to a warming world.” He added, “We don’t want to see another one of those. We want climate solutions, and that takes Congress to weigh in.”

• Focus: Civic action and policy change
• Why it matters: Extreme weather is getting worse, and communities feel the cost
• Call to action: Contact representatives and support clean energy projects

Portland, Oregon: Culture Meets Clean Power

Portland hosted one of five Oregon events. Thirty local groups organized a lively celebration with 25 food vendors, Aztec dance performers, and a parade across the Hawthorne Bridge. The goal was simple: show public support for renewables and the jobs they bring.

Organizer Laura Iwanaga from Third Act wanted an uplifting tone. “We all know what we’re fighting against,” she said, “but we don’t always think about what we’re fighting for.”

Speakers included U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, State Senator Khanh Pham, Dr. Bernadette Rogers (astronomer), attorney Nick Caleb, and Commissioner Sriya Chinnam. Senator Merkley said that 90% of the new energy added to the U.S. grid last year was renewable. He urged people to sign up for community solar and consider rooftop panels. “It’s now cheaper to plant a piece of glass at the sun than to dig up coal and burn it,” he said.

• Equity: Sen. Pham stressed an energy transition that includes everyone.
• Science: Dr. Rogers noted the sun delivers enough energy in one hour to power the world for a year.
• Community: The day ended with “The Sun Ball” from 2–6 p.m., plus booths from 30 groups sharing ways to act.

New York City: Sun Day on the Eve of Climate Week

Hundreds met at Stuyvesant Square Park and a nearby Quaker meeting house. The event was part of a national drive founded by Bill McKibben and Denis Hayes (the first Earth Day coordinator). McKibben said it is “sad to watch the sun going to waste” while we still burn fossil fuels.

New York leaders, including Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and Comptroller Brad Lander, joined the program. The gathering featured solar displays, child-friendly lessons, and panel talks. Organizers kept the tone constructive. They named fossil fuel harms, and they focused on solutions at hand.

Nationwide Actions: Local Effort, Big Picture

Across the U.S., people held more than 500 actions to show clean energy in motion:

• Virginia: Volunteers installed solar panels on Habitat for Humanity homes.
• North Carolina: Families gathered at a farm powered by solar.
• Michigan: Organizers hosted an electric vehicle show and a beach cleanup.

These events arrived right before Climate Week NYC, which brings together officials, companies, and activists. They also followed the “Make Billionaires Pay” march, where 25,000 people took to New York’s streets.

Policy Headwinds — and Optimism

Speakers acknowledged federal pushback. Reporting cited more than 150 rollbacks and delays since January that target solar grants and wind projects. Senator Peter Welch said clean energy cuts bills and creates jobs, and that rollbacks “wreck that economic potential.”

Still, the mood stayed hopeful. McKibben pointed to global progress. Many nations keep building wind and solar because they are now the cheapest options. He praised Utah’s recent move to legalize solar panels on balconies. In New York, Assemblymember Emily Gallagher plans a bill to help renters access solar.

At-a-Glance: Sun Day Highlights

Why It Matters Now

Speakers tied Sun Day to clear facts on growth and cost. One speaker said that in the past year, 90% of the new energy added to the U.S. grid was renewable. Another noted the sun provides more than enough energy; the task is to capture it and share the benefits fairly. People also warned about the rising costs of storms and heat.

• Affordability: Clean power can lower bills and offer stable prices.
• Health: Less air pollution means fewer health risks.
• Jobs: Building solar and wind creates skilled work.

What Comes Next

Sun Day 2025 was not just a celebration. It was a plan. Organizers asked people to sign up for community solar, explore rooftop panels, and back fair access rules. They also pressed leaders to protect climate programs and speed up grid upgrades.

Bill McKibben closed with a hopeful line about the weather. The forecast was cloudy, yet the day felt bright and warm. “The collective power of all of us is enough to bring out the sun,” he said. It sounded like a cliché—and a challenge. Keep going, because the work’s not done.