User:Johnreed2009/SolarDay

SolarDay - The national and international day for clean energy and protection of the planet

SolarDay was created by author and journalist John Reed in 2008 in the U.S. when the nascent U.S. solar industry was awaiting renewal of the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit ("ITC") to encourage widespread adoption of solar energy by homes and businesses. At the time of creation of SolarDay in 2008, the renewal of the ITC was pending and somewhat problematic due to pressures from the fossil fuels industries. Ultimately, the ITC was renewed in 2008 for another eight years.

This annual event was created to provide public outreach and education about solar energy and clean energy options to citizens of the world.

SolarDay is held annually, nationally and internationally. In the U.S. the event is held on the Saturday before June 21, the summer solstice, which is the longest day of sunlight during the year.

In 2009, SolarDay 2009 was held in the U.S. with one event in the city of San Francisco, CA - a solar thermal (hot water heating) tour hosted by the city on SolarDay 2009 to show city residents solar thermal installations in homes and businesses in San Francisco. As well, there was a small event in city at Justin Herman Plaza near the Embarcadero with a small number of solar company booths and spokespeople from the city to answer questions from residents and book tours on the bio-diesel buses that were used for the solar thermal tours that day.

San Francisco, CA TV, KGO (ABC 7) broadcast a story about SolarDay 2009, hundreds of other media covered the first SolarDay, including print and online media.

SolarDay 2010 was held on Saturday, June 19 with local solar and clean energy events in more than 25 U.S. cities and press coverage by over 1,000 TV, radio, print, online and social media from results posted on a Google search. The City of New Orleans, impacted by the Gulf, BP oil spill also hosted an event. As well as the first international SolarDay event was held in Cairo, Egypt.

SolarDay 2011 is Saturday, June 18 in the United States, Canada and Mexico and other countries using the same calendar at the U.S.

Internationally, because the calendars of various nations can vary, SolarDay 2011 will be the first Saturday or Sunday prior to the summer solstice for each country with the exception of national religious or other holidays that preclude SolarDay 2011 on these dates, with specific dates assigned to each country reflecting this indigenous calendar events and activities.