By Bob Norberg, Third Act Florida
Floridians increasingly recognize that Florida, being the Sunshine State, is the optimum place to capitalize on all the benefits that solar energy can provide. From commercial-scale solar arrays to small-scale household solar units, Florida should be the world leader in solar power adoption and usage.
On Sept. 21, Third Act Florida members will participate in Sun Day, a nationwide mobilization that marks a pivotal moment in America’s clean energy transformation. Spearheaded by renowned environmental activist Bill McKibben, this nationwide event will feature hundreds of events across all 50 states, creating a powerful, coordinated day of action to spotlight the most significant energy revolution of our time.
As part of this national movement, several events are being held in Florida. For instance, Sun Day activities are scheduled in Hollywood, Orlando and Gainesville. These events will provide information about the potential of solar power to reduce the energy burden of many households, as well as include giveaways, games, music and other activities.
The day will demonstrate that clean energy isn’t a far-off dream, but is instead an immediate, practical solution to our current energy challenges that will bring down costs and improve energy-supply reliability.
“For decades we’ve called this stuff ‘alternative energy.’ We want to drive home the point that that’s not true anymore – this is the straightforward, common-sense, obvious way to power our future, the cheapest way to drive down electric prices, the easiest way to build a working America,” said McKibben, the driving force behind Sun Day and a pioneering voice in the climate movement.
McKibben, co-founder of 350.org and a leading environmental author, has been instrumental in bringing global attention to climate change and the potential of renewable energy. McKibben and others started the Third Act organization to organize older people for the purpose of protecting our democracy and climate for the benefit of future generations.
The Sun Day events are part of a larger national movement demonstrating that clean energy technologies are affordable, reliable and ready to deploy at scale. According to Sun Day organizers, the United States added 50 gigawatts of solar power to the grid in 2024 – the most any energy source has added in two decades, enough to power 8.5 million homes.
These events, in Florida and across the country, are designed to showcase existing utilization of solar installations, what is available today and what is to come with respect to solar and battery development. For more information on the events in Florida, visit https://thirdact.org/florida/.
Bob Norberg is a retired economist who lives in Gainesville and serves as co-facilitator for Third Act Florida. Banner photo: Solar panels on a Florida rooftop (iStock image).
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