2009 Fresno Solar Tour
As part of the National Solar Tour the 2009 tour was presented by Green Fresno and organized by Tom Cotter. Tour megawatt sponsors included American Solar Energy Society, Green Fresno, NorCal Solar, Operation Clean Air and Real Goods Solar. Local media coverage included NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, Univision, The Fresno Bee, The Undercurrent, KVRP and others. The addition of an alternative fuel vehicle show showcased 100% electric, biodiesel, waste vegetable oil and hybrid technologies being used by valley residents. Each tour participant received a free copy of the 600+ page Solar Living Sourcebook ($35 value) along with other useful resources.
Fresno Solar Tour '09 - Tour Sites Overview from Tom Cotter on Vimeo.
September, 2007
Directed by Tom Cotter tour sponsorship grew to include PG&E, The City of Fresno, The Central Valley Business Incubator, NorCal Solar and The American Solar Energy Society. Local media coverage included NBC, CBS, Univision, The Fresno Bee and The Collegiate. Over 150 people attended this educational event with some coming from as far away as the Bay Area and Southern California.
2006 Fresno Solar Tour
As Co-coordinators Mark Stout and Tom Cotter led one of the most successful tour in California for 2006. The Fresno Tour showed a host of residential and commercial solar installations. Media covererage expanded to a KSFR interview (MP3) with Mr. Stout being interviewed on San Joaquin Spotlight.
2005 Fresno Solar Tour
Under the direction of Mark Stout the first-ever Fresno Solar Tour won the "Best New Solar Tour of 2005" award from the American Solar Energy Society. A total of 68,000 people participated in the National Solar Tour. In Fresno we showed nine solar homes and two large commercial solar installations. Our registration center was the Fresno Municipal Center. Media coverage included ABC, CBS, and FOX TV; KIRV and KFCF radio interviews; and three articles in the Fresno Bee.
National Solar Tour
The Fresno Solar Tour is part of the American Solar Energy’s (ASES) National Solar Tour which is the largest grassroots solar event in history. While energy prices continue to soar, this event offers participants the opportunity to tour homes and buildings to see how neighbors are using solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to reduce their monthly utility bills and help tackle climate change.
Last year more than 160,000 attendees visited some 5,500 buildings in 3,200 participating communities. An increasing focus of the tour is on energy-saving techniques and sustainability through building design, energy efficient appliances, and use of green materials during remodeling. Tours also provide helpful, real-world examples of costs and how to save money with federal, state, and local incentives,
Ultimately the tour inspires people across the nation to make sustainable energy choices that help lower costs, support energy independence, protect against power outages, and reduce carbon emissions. We invite you to join the renewable energy revolution by participating in the ASES National Solar Tour.