Solar Lobby Day Details

Solar Lobby Day Details

Updated 5.25.23

Purpose of Solar Lobby Day

  • Solar Lobby Day is a joint event between Solar Rights Alliance and the California Solar & Storage Association (CALSSA). Our goal is for lawmakers and their staff to meet face-to-face with solar users and solar workers from their district. We want lawmakers to hear directly from their voters, and learn reasons why they should support policies that protect rooftop solar and battery storage and expand it to millions more Californians.
  • Solar Rights Alliance organizes this event jointly with CALSSA because there’s strength in numbers. This is a chance for lawmakers to see the myriad faces of solar—both solar users like you, as well as the workers who installed the solar on your roof.
  • Solar Lobby Day is just one of several things we do throughout the year to encourage lawmakers to support solar. After Solar Lobby Day, we also intend to facilitate local “meet and greets” with your lawmaker, where you will hopefully have additional chances to speak with them. The more interactions that lawmakers have with their solar voters, the better.

Event Location and Time

Where to Check in

  • The Solar Rights Alliance registration table will be open at 8 a.m. right in front of the steps of the State Capitol. From 10th St, walk across the West Lawn towards the Capitol Building, towards the table with the Solar Rights Alliance banner. See Map
  • When you check in, you will receive a packet that includes your meeting itinerary for the day, directions, background materials, and your t-shirt.
  • We will hold an orientation for all attendees prior to the start of meetings where you can get last minute questions answered.

Travel and Parking information

  • A Solar Rights Alliance volunteer and Sacramento local has kindly compiled information about local parking, public transit options from around the state, and lodging options.

Food and bathrooms

  • For those who confirm their attendance by May 30th, we will have pastries and coffee available at registration, and a boxed lunch available at 11:30 a.m. The boxed lunch will include gluten free, vegan, and vegetarian options on a first-come, first-serve basis. A water station will be open all day. Note that the breakfast offerings are light; you might consider filling up prior to coming.
  • Portable restrooms will be on-site all day.

Attire and general standards of behavior

  • You do not need to dress up. Wear what you normally wear, but do choose attire that is both respectful and also weather appropriate. Also, wear something that you can put your Solar Rights Alliance t-shirt over!
  • Remember that this is NOT a rally or protest. It is instead a respectful meeting between your lawmaker / staff and constituents like you. Do not bring signs, just bring yourself.
  • Do not bring your Swiss Army knives, box cutters, or anything of that sort. There is security and a metal detector in the building where most meetings will be held.

Where the Lobby Meetings will be held

  • The State Capitol is under construction, and so lawmakers’ offices are temporarily at the Capitol Swing Space located about two blocks away at 1021 O St. Most meetings will be held there.
  • Please give yourself at least 30 minutes to walk from the West Lawn to the Capitol Swing Space and go through security and elevators. Tuesdays tend to be a busy day.
  • In some cases, your meeting will be held at a special tent on the West Lawn.
  • Your registration packet will include information on where and when your meetings are located.

What to expect

  • The centerpiece of the day are your meetings with the offices of your Senator and Assemblymember. You will either meet directly with the Member, or one of their staff. Either is great; staff do an enormous amount of work and report back directly to the elected officials.
  • Meeting group sizes will vary, and some will be quite large. This is good! Large groups show the lawmakers the depth and breadth of support for rooftop solar among their voters.
  • Most meetings will only be 15 minutes. If your group is large, you might not have a speaking role in the meeting. I want to stress that even if that is the case, your presence alone makes a big impact. Getting lawmakers face-to-face with their solar voters reminds them to think twice before doing what utility lobbyists ask for.
  •  The key thing is to have fun and don’t stress. Lobby days are notoriously logistically imperfect but we promise it will be worth it!

What to prepare for your meeting

  • You should come prepared to—in less than one minute and in your own words—introduce yourself and where you live, why you chose solar, and why the state should be doing more to make it possible for others to go solar. If you have a battery, make note of that, too.
  • Meeting you face-to-face and hearing why rooftop solar is so important to you and your family is the most important thing you can do. This is what politicians need to hear from their voters, over and over again.
  • Be yourself. We don’t want you to get into a debate with any politician or their staff, nor do we expect you to be an expert in policy.
  • Please be sure that one person is in charge of taking photos in every meeting with a legislator. Be sure to share your photo with Solar Rights Alliance at [email protected]

After your meetings

  • Be sure to complete your Lobby Meeting Debrief Form (which will be included in the packet you’ll get at registration table) after your meetings. Please be sure to leave your completed Debrief Forms with the Solar Rights Alliance registration table. Hearing your perspective on the meeting is really important to understanding the elected official better.

Other things going on during the day

  • There will be lots of information tables hosted by different solar companies. You might find their stuff interesting, especially battery storage products.
  • There will be different speakers throughout the day talking on different topics.
  • You are invited to join us for Happy Hour at 4 p.m. at Thirty Four Mexican Cantina, 1100 O St #5, Sacramento, CA 95814, a short walk from the Capitol.

If you have other questions