Tickets are now available for the Solar Roots Party, taking place Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2026, at the Ponderosa Hall-Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley, California, considered one of the birthplaces of the modern solar industry. As part of the three-day gathering, the feature-length documentary film “Solar Roots – The Pioneers of PV” will make its world premiere at the Del Oro Theater.
The film, more than a decade in the making, chronicles the untold true story of the hippies who brought solar power down from space and adapted it to power their remote homes in the forests of Northern California, ultimately transforming the technology into one of the world’s fastest growing sources of electricity today. The filmmakers, Jeff Spies (executive producer) and Jason Vetterli (director), conducted over 50 interviews with many of the movement’s founders, innovators and early adopters, preserving stories that might otherwise have been lost to history.
“This film has truly been a labor of love,” Spies said. “Our goal was to preserve the stories of the industry pioneers. Sadly, we’ve lost many along the way, making the documenting of their experiences even more meaningful. Their creativity, determination and willingness to challenge conventional thinking changed the world. I hope this film will inspire generations to come with those same values.”
Rather than relying on a polished Hollywood production style, the filmmakers intentionally embraced an authentic documentary approach, reflecting the personality of the people and communities that gave birth to the solar industry.
“We wanted the film to feel as genuine as the people telling their stories,” Vetterli said. “This allowed us to capture the quirky humor, ingenuity and authenticity that defined the early solar movement. Most of the interviews were filmed in the same backwoods where the home PV industry took root, allowing viewers to experience the settings alongside the pioneers.”
Following its world premiere at the Solar Roots Party, the film will be released as a free, non-commercial documentary, making it available to audiences around the world as an educational resource and historical archive for future generations.
The Solar Roots Party brings together the original pioneers of residential solar, today’s solar leaders, and the next generation of clean energy innovators to celebrate the industry’s remarkable history while inspiring its future. The party is made possible in part through the generous support of industry sponsors. SMA serves as the event’s Gold Sponsor and BoxPower is the Silver Sponsor. Additional sponsors include FranklinWH, IronRidge, REC, Greentech Renewables, NABCEP, Tamarack Solar, PV Cables and Planet Plan Sets.
For more information about the event, tickets and the documentary, watch the official trailer and visit the Solar Roots event website.
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