SunRun and Sierra Club Join Forces to Expand Rooftop Solar in Southern California

SAN FRANCISCO, June 21, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- SunRun, the nation's leading home solar company, today announced a partnership with the Sierra Club, America's largest grassroots environmental organization, to bring affordable solar to thousands of Southern California homes.  The partnership kicks off the start of summer and helps families save money by taking control of their energy costs.  

"This is a high priority for the Sierra Club.  In order to end our dependence on dirty energy, we need as many homes as possible to switch to rooftop solar, and by making solar easy and affordable, SunRun is helping end our dependence on dirty, polluting energy like coal," said Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune.  "We are urging all of our Southern California supporters to sign up for solar with SunRun. Every home that goes solar gets us one step closer to our goal of a clean energy economy."

SunRun owns, installs, and maintains home solar panels so families don't have to pay $30,000 or more for them. Homeowners also lock in low solar electricity rates for 20 years, protected from unpredictable utility rate increases.  

As part of the partnership, SunRun will give $50 to the nonprofit for every Sierra Club supporter who signs up for a free solar evaluation, plus $1,000 for every member who goes solar with SunRun.

Rooftop solar is becoming easier and more affordable every day. According to data from the California Solar Initiative (CSI), paying for solar power instead of panels was more popular in May 2011 than traditional cash purchases.  It was the first month ever in which solar power service – when a third-party like SunRun owns the panels for the homeowner – represented over 50 percent of new California solar rebate reservations.

"The greatest challenge with home solar right now is not enough families realize it's affordable," said SunRun President and Co-founder Lynn Jurich.  "The Sierra Club is helping us get the word out, and we get to help their members have a relationship with electricity they never thought was possible.  Finally, they can feel good about the way they power their homes."

Sierra Club supporters can now get an easy and immediate free solar evaluation at http://www.Sierraclub.org/sunrun.

About SunRun

SunRun is the nation's leading residential solar company and its mission is to become the nation's largest energy provider. The company's Total Solar product is the smart and affordable choice for homeowners who want a clean alternative to their utility.  SunRun offers solar power service, similar to a lease, allowing homeowners to upgrade their home to solar for as little as $0 upfront and simply pay monthly for solar electricity. More than 10,000 homeowners have chosen SunRun across Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.  SunRun partners with over 25 leading local solar installers, who together employ more than 3,000 green-collar workers. SunRun has raised financing for more than $600 million in solar systems from PG&E Corporation and U.S. Bancorp and $85 million in venture capital from Accel Partners, Foundation Capital and Sequoia Capital. For more information, please visit: www.sunrunhome.com.

About the Sierra Club

Since 1892, the Sierra Club has been working to protect communities, wild places, and the planet itself.  With 1.4 million members and supporters, the Sierra Club is the largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States.  Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign works to replace dirty energy from coal with clean power like wind and solar. For more information, please visit www.sierraclub.org/beyondcoal

SOURCE SunRun