For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jackie Greger, jackie.greger@sierraclub.org (732)-979-0852
NJ Sierra Club Hosts Local Sun Day Picnic to
Celebrate Clean Energy at Holmdel Park
From Coast to Coast: Thousands United to Demonstrate that Clean Energy is Ready Now
Pictured (left to right): NJ Sierra Club Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot, Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Robert Wilson, NJ Sierra Club Student Action Committee Chair, Olivia Xu, Waterspirit Public Policy & Justice Organizer, Rachel Dawn Davis, NJ Sierra Club Building Electrification Committee Chairs, Pat and Steve Miller
Holmdel, NJ – On September 21, the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club hosted a community Picnic and Hike to celebrate Sun Day, a groundbreaking nationwide mobilization that marks a pivotal moment in America's clean energy transformation. Spearheaded by renowned environmental activist Bill McKibben, this nationwide event featured 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, the local event in Holmdel featured a short speaking program, organizational tabling, children’s music, free food, ice cream, and a community hike. The event brought together environmental partners, community members, and passersby at Holmdel Park to learn about clean energy, the benefits of solar power, and what we can do here in New Jersey to power our communities with clean energy.
The event was held in Holmdel Park in Monmouth County in reference to the history of the first photovoltaic cell (solar panel technology) being invented at the nearby Bell Labs.
Co-sponsoring organizations included New Jersey League of Conservation Voters, Waterspirit, Third Act NJ, Holmdel Green Team, Climate Reality Project, Citizens Climate Lobby, Climate Revolution Action Network, Pinelands Preservation Alliance, and ANJEC.
“Sun Day was the perfect occasion to kick off Climate Week, celebrate New Jersey’s progress in expanding access to solar energy, and legacy as a leader in clean energy technology and innovation. As we come off an intense summer of extreme weather events and storms, energy rate hikes, and an electricity demand crisis, Sun Day affirms that solar is our abundant solution to both climate action, energy affordability, and reliability. It's time to scale it up, for the sake of our communities and environment,” said NJ Sierra Club Director, Anjuli Ramos-Busot.
"For decades we've called this stuff 'alternative energy.' We want to drive home the point that that's not true any more--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 Bill 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.
“Clean energy is the energy of the future, and here in New Jersey, we’re proving it is the energy of today, too. Clean energy like solar, which is the cheapest energy, not only helps us meet our climate goals, but it is cheaper for ratepayers, faster to build, and helps clean up our air as we fight the climate crisis. We’ve already reached an incredible milestone of 5 gigawatts of solar capacity in New Jersey, but we can’t stop here. That’s why we’re calling on the legislature to pass the 100% clean electricity bill by 2035 as soon as possible, so New Jersey continues to lead the nation in a more affordable and healthier future,” said Ed Potosnak, NJ League of Conservation Voters.
“Sun Day aligns with Holmdel Township’s Community Energy Planning (CEP) efforts, and the Green Team is pleased to participate. Holmdel’s CEP team, which includes community members and municipal leaders, is investigating initiatives to reduce emissions in municipal buildings, businesses, schools, and homes. Transitioning to clean energy is key to that goal. The Holmdel Green Team was pleased to have this opportunity to discuss practical actions we all can take to move towards clean energy for healthier homes and a more resilient community,” said Maryrose Little on behalf of the Holmdel Green Team.
“Solar energy is helping to clean up the Pinelands while powering our communities. Thanks to New Jersey’s community solar program, at least seven long-abandoned landfills in the region are being capped and transformed into roughly 24 MW of clean, renewable energy. With more community solar and agrivoltaic projects, we can continue turning degraded sites into sources of both restoration and resilience for the Garden State,” said Pinelands Preservation Alliance Policy Director, Heidi Yeh.
The event is 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.
Key highlights of the local Sun Day Picnic and Celebration in Holmdel include:
- Speaking program featuring NJ Sierra Club Director, Anjuli Ramos, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and scientist, Robert Wilson, Sierra Club clean energy advocates and Bell Labs veterans, Steve and Pat Miller, Waterspirit Public Policy & Justice Organizer, and NJ Sierra Club Student Action Committee Chair, Olivia Xu.
- Community hike around Holmdel Park.
- Live music by Mr. Ray.
- Drum circle by Monmouth Civic Chorus.
About the New Jersey Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
About Sun Day: Sun Day is a national day of action on September 21, 2025, mobilizing communities across the United States to celebrate and demand large-scale deployment of clean energy. Organized by a broad coalition of clean energy workers, advocates, scientists, and community leaders, the event focuses on the abundance of existing clean power solutions.