Friends House in Santa Rosa celebrates solar power

After years of effort, Friends House, a Front Porch community in Santa Rosa, can celebrate the launch of its solar power initiative. With 362 solar panels installed across 20 different roof faces, the community anticipates being able to support 85% of the energy needs of its main building through solar power.

Launched as a resident initiative more than six years ago, the solar project encountered numerous obstacles, but the community was determined to establish renewable energy sources and address the climate crisis. Working with the Climate Center and Sonoma Clean Power, Friends House residents created a committee that focused on the solar power project. The group met regularly, researching new solar options as well as previous panels the community had used.

Finally, in 2023, the solar project got the green light. One of many green initiatives supported by Front Porch, construction and installation of the panels started in September 2023 as one of the community’s capital improvement projects. After installation was completed in the fall of 2024, the community worked through problems with the inverters and installed “critter guards” to protect the wiring on the roof. At long last, the solar power was 100 percent operational in February 2025.

Friends House worked with Spreck Energy which specializes in custom solar installations for commercial properties. Over the course of almost four months, Spreck placed solar panels on Friends House’s main building and two apartment buildings and installed five inverters to convert direct current power to the alternating current that can then be sent to the power grid. 

“It was definitely a community effort,” says Robert Rubio, executive director of Friends House. “I think there was a huge buy-in on the residents’ side, even though you suddenly have people walking on your roof at 8 in the morning. I didn’t hear one complaint during the whole process.”

Residents eagerly waited for the day when PG&E turned the solar panels on and the panel became functional, providing the community with its own energy source, says resident leader Elizabeth Boardman. Residents may no longer need to pay for some utility costs, but Elizabeth said, “I haven’t heard any resident that considers that the prime reason for this project. Residents around here are very concerned about climate change and want us and our community to do everything we can to reduce climate change.” Friends House is also installing four new EV chargers for residents, staff or guests who have electric vehicles.

Resident involvement has been key to the project’s success, and is one of the things that makes Friends House special. Friends House was founded as a Quaker community; although residents come from a range of backgrounds, Quaker values of simplicity, community, integrity and stewardship are still core to the collaborative work done by residents that benefit everyone.

“It’s great here, because everyone works together to get these projects done,” says Robert.