Vote Solar
Vote Solar is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that drives equitable solar and clean energy policy through state-level regulatory intervention, legislative advocacy, and coalition building across 25 U.S. states, serving state regulators, low-income communities, and tribal communities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersOakland, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Vote Solar does
Vote Solar is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit policy advocacy organization founded in 2002 by Adam Browning and David Hochschild in San Francisco after the successful Proposition B solar ballot initiative, now headquartered in Oakland, California. The organization's work centers on advancing equitable solar and clean energy policy at the U.S. state level through regulatory intervention, legislative campaigns, and coalition building, with active advocacy currently spanning 25 states across the West, Midwest, and East regions and a historical footprint of 40 states.
The organization delivers its mission through three primary channels: (1) direct engagement with state Public Utility Commissions and legislators via expert testimony and intervention in utility rate cases, integrated resource planning proceedings, and net metering rulemakings; (2) coalition leadership with environmental justice, civil rights, and clean energy partners including the NAACP Solar Equity Initiative, Sierra Club, Southern Environmental Law Center, GRID Alternatives, and IREC; and (3) grassroots mobilization of members, evidenced by 500+ members contacting regulators during the Duke Energy Carolinas IRP proceeding. Its core 'work product' consists of policy analysis, expert testimony, regulatory filings (e.g., opposing Duke Energy's Carbon Plan, supporting New Mexico's Community Solar Act), and analytical outputs such as the 'Freeing the Grid' interconnection scorecard with IREC and the Load Growth White Paper.
Vote Solar operates on a donation and foundation grant revenue model with no commercial pricing. As of 2021, the organization had a $8.6M operating budget and a team of ~40 staff. Primary constituencies are state policymakers and regulators, low-income and underserved communities, and Indigenous/tribal communities seeking energy sovereignty. Co-founder Adam Browning departed as Executive Director in September 2021; Sachu Constantine currently serves as Interim Executive Director while the Board conducts a permanent leadership search. The affiliated Vote Solar Action Fund operates as a separate 501(c)(4) entity for related advocacy work.
Vote Solar firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Vote Solar
- Legal name
- Vote Solar
- Website
- https://votesolar.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Vote Solar is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2002 that drives equitable solar and clean energy policy through state-level regulatory intervention, legislative advocacy, and coalition building across 25 U.S. states, serving state regulators, low-income communities, and tribal communities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Vote Solar industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Solar Energy Policy Advocacy
- NAICS
- Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)
- SIC
- Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind (EUAMAJAD)
Keywords
Where Vote Solar is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Oakland
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Vote Solar business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Charitable Contributions: Vote Solar operates as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization accepts tax-deductible donations from individuals, with a Tax ID number of 46-4396728. Monthly donor programs and one-time giving options are available.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Vote Solar product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Vote Solar is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that drives the transition to clean energy at the state level through policy advocacy, regulatory intervention, and coalition building. The organization files expert testimony before public utility commissions, leads legislative campaigns for community solar and renewable energy standards, and builds grassroots coalitions to advance equitable solar energy policy across 25 U.S. states.
Product overview
Vote Solar is a 501(c)(3) non-profit solar energy advocacy organization, not a product or technology company. Their offering consists of policy advocacy services, regulatory intervention, and educational resources to advance solar energy adoption at the state level across 25+ U.S. states. They do not offer commercial products, software platforms, or technology services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Vote Solar Action Fund: An affiliated but separate organization from Vote Solar, as noted in the Privacy Policy.
Products and services
- State-Level Solar Policy Advocacy Core advocacy service directed at state legislators, public utility commissioners, and regulatory bodies to advance equitable solar energy policy. Includes direct lobbying, policy analysis, and campaign leadership across 25 states.
- Regulatory Advocacy Hub
Quantifiable outcome
- California ratepayers can save over $120 billion by 2050 through local solar and storage investments
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Vote Solar
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Vote Solar technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Vote Solar partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- NAACP Solar Equity InitiativecoreVote Solar is a proud partner in the NAACP's Solar Equity Initiative, which released Equitable Solar Policy Principles to assist advocates and policymakers in crafting solar policy solutions that address pollution impacts on BIPOC and frontline communities and ensure benefits flow to these communities.
- Local Solar for All CoalitioncoreVote Solar is part of the Local Solar for All coalition that uses cutting-edge modeling to demonstrate that Californians could save $120 billion by 2050 through local clean energy investments.
- SOLution New MexicocoreA broad coalition organized by Vote Solar's Interior West Regional Director & Tribal Liaison Mayane Barudin, working to expand solar to all New Mexicans, support energy sovereignty for Tribes & Pueblos, and rebuild New Mexico's economy with clean, locally produced community solar.
- NJ Shines CoalitioncoreA coalition of solar and justice advocates in New Jersey that passed the Clean Energy Equity Act to help environmental justice and income communities benefit from solar, storage, and energy efficiency.
- Illinois Clean Jobs CoalitioncoreA broad coalition of hundreds of organizations in Illinois that crafted the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), designed to ensure the benefits of a thriving clean energy economy are shared by all Illinoisans and address structural barriers faced by marginalized communities.
- Southern Environmental Law CentercoreVote Solar works with the Southern Environmental Law Center representing clean energy advocacy groups in proceedings before the North Carolina Utilities Commission, including challenges to Duke Energy's Carbon Plan and transmission planning approaches.
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC)coreVote Solar and IREC co-released the 'Freeing the Grid' report, a scorecard evaluating state distributed energy resource interconnection policies. New Mexico became the only state to earn an 'A' grade in their updated assessment.
- Sierra ClubcoreVote Solar partners with Sierra Club on multiple campaigns including opposition to cuts to Massachusetts' Mass Save energy efficiency program and coalition work on clean energy policy.
- GRID AlternativesminorPartner on the Access & Equity Advisory Committee focused on low-to-moderate income solar program implementation, bringing expertise on serving underrepresented communities.
- Solar United NeighborsminorPartner on the Access & Equity Advisory Committee, working on policies to expand solar access to low-wealth communities.
- Conservation Law FoundationminorCo-hosted an information webinar on performance-based regulation benefits in Connecticut, along with Acadia Foundation and Save the Sound.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Vote Solar competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Sierra Club: One of the largest U.S. environmental advocacy organizations with an active Beyond Coal/clean energy program. Sierra Club is both a coalition partner and a competing voice in state-level clean energy policy advocacy, with overlapping donor bases and policy priorities.
- Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA): Nonprofit coalition of state clean energy agencies and organizations. Comparable in mission to advance clean energy at the state level, with overlapping work on shared renewables, interconnection policy, and state program design that intersects directly with Vote Solar's regulatory advocacy.
- Solar United Neighbors: Solar advocacy and solar co-op organization that helps residents go solar. Coalition partner with Vote Solar, but also independently advocates for distributed solar policy and rooftop solar rights at the state level with overlapping grassroots networks.
- Southern Environmental Law Center: Regional environmental advocacy organization that frequently co-represents Vote Solar in regulatory proceedings (e.g., Duke Energy cases in NC). Operates with a similar litigation-plus-advocacy model across Southeastern states and shares identical clean energy policy goals.
- Fresh Energy: Minnesota-based clean energy advocacy organization pursuing state-level climate and clean energy policy. Operates a similar state-regulatory advocacy model and competes for Midwest state-level philanthropic funding while sharing overlapping solar and equity policy priorities.
- Acadia Center: Regional clean energy advocacy organization serving Northeast states. Co-hosts events with Vote Solar (e.g., Connecticut performance-based regulation webinars) and shares the same regulatory advocacy model targeting state PUCs and legislatures.
- GRID Alternatives: National nonprofit focused on solar access for low-income communities. Vote Solar is a coalition partner via the Access & Equity Advisory Committee, but both organizations compete for philanthropic funding in the energy equity space and pursue overlapping solar access policy goals.
Broad incumbents
- Environmental Defense Fund (EDF): Large science-based environmental advocacy organization with active state-level climate and clean energy programs. Operates with a broader portfolio including climate, oceans, and health, but competes for similar state-level clean energy policy influence and donor support.
- Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC): Major national environmental advocacy organization with significantly larger budget and broader portfolio. Competes with Vote Solar for philanthropic dollars and policymaker attention while also serving as a coalition partner on overlapping campaigns.
Emerging players
- Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC): National nonprofit focused on clean energy interconnection policy and workforce standards. Co-publishes the Freeing the Grid report with Vote Solar and operates in adjacent regulatory and policy spaces, particularly on interconnection and building codes.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Vote Solar social profiles
Digital presenceVote Solar financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Vote Solar leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Vote Solar funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Vote Solar M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Vote Solar
What does Vote Solar do?
Vote Solar is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that drives the transition to clean energy at the state level through policy advocacy, regulatory intervention, and coalition building. The organization files expert testimony before public utility commissions, leads legislative campaigns for community solar and renewable energy standards, and builds grassroots coalitions to advance equitable solar energy policy across 25 U.S. states.
Is Vote Solar a public or private company?
Vote Solar is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Vote Solar founded?
Vote Solar was founded in 2002. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Vote Solar based?
Vote Solar is headquartered in Oakland, United States, in the North America region.
How does Vote Solar make money?
One revenue line is on record: donations and Charitable Contributions.
Who are Vote Solar's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Sierra Club, Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), Solar United Neighbors, Southern Environmental Law Center, Fresh Energy, Acadia Center and GRID Alternatives. Broad incumbents are Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) is listed as an emerging player.
Does Vote Solar have an API?
No public API is recorded for Vote Solar.
What industry is Vote Solar in?
Vote Solar's product category is Solar Energy Policy Advocacy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAMAJAD, Distributed Generation (DG) Solar & Small Wind. Its NAICS code is 813312 and its SIC code is 8300.