Solar Drinks once again brought together a dynamic mix of industry professionals for an evening centered on connection, conversation, and a shared commitment to advancing clean energy.
From the moment guests arrived, the atmosphere reflected what makes these gatherings so valuable—an easy exchange of ideas among both familiar colleagues and new faces. When you bring together people who care deeply about the future of energy, meaningful dialogue tends to follow naturally.
A highlight of the evening was the opportunity to hear from Assemblymember Gail Pellerin, who generously joined us and engaged directly with attendees. Her perspective helped frame solar energy not just as an environmental solution, but as a broader economic and infrastructure opportunity. As she noted,
“Solar wins when it’s seen as a bill stabilizer, a grid reliability asset, a resilience tool, and a jobs engine. We can’t just talk about it as a carbon solution.” – Assemblymember Gail Pellerin
Her remarks sparked thoughtful discussion around the role of policy in shaping the future of clean energy and underscored the importance of expanding how solar is understood and communicated.
Events like Solar Drinks serve an important purpose within the industry. They create space to step outside of day-to-day operations and engage more broadly—sharing perspectives, exploring challenges, and strengthening the relationships that support continued progress. The diversity of voices in the room contributed to a rich exchange of ideas and reinforced the collaborative spirit that drives this work forward.
That spirit was echoed throughout the evening, including in Angela’s reflection on the broader role of solar within our communities:
“We need to turn up the pressure because utilities may be used to monopolies, but the sun belongs to everyone, and the power it makes should fuel democracy—not a monopoly.” – Angela Lipanovich
Throughout the evening, conversations spanned emerging trends, policy considerations, and the evolving landscape of renewable energy. What remained consistent was a shared sense of purpose and momentum across the community.
Below, you’ll find highlights from the evening—captured through moments shared across the Solar Drinks community.
We look forward to continuing the conversation at our next Solar Drinks gathering in early October.
Additional details will be shared soon.
