WAYNE COUNTY, PA — Wayne County residents will once again take part in the ASES (American Solar Energy Society) National Solar Tour, the nation’s largest grassroots renewable energy education event. This year, SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support) is helping coordinate local participation. The event is held the first weekend in October and is organized by ASES.

The National Solar Tour empowers thousands of homeowners, businesses, schools and organizations across the country to open their doors and demonstrate real-world solar and sustainability solutions to the public.

Wayne County’s participating sites highlight the region’s growing commitment to renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate-smart living. 

Currently, there are three sites identified in Wayne County that offer a variety of options to check out sustainable homes and see how solar really works on the ground in our community.

Below is a short description of the sites, but those interested should visit www.nationalsolartour.org to get directions and additional information.

How it works

During the tour, SEEDS and local solar owners welcome guests for in-person open houses, offering firsthand insights into how their systems work, what they cost, and how solar has reduced their energy bills and carbon footprint. These conversations help demystify solar technology and show how clean energy supports long-term affordability, environmental stewardship and energy independence for families and businesses alike. 

The first solar site tour is a fully off-grid, solar-plus-battery-powered cabin operating continuously for more than a decade. The owners live here in the summer and on many weekends year-round. The site is open for tours on Saturday and Sunday, October 3 and 4; check the national solar tour website above for directions and to RSVP.

The Boyds Mills retreat center, located in Damascus, is a self-guided stop on the tour, offering visitors a look at its substantial solar infrastructure. The site features a ground-mounted solar array, complemented by an additional barn roof array located nearby, both of which support campus operations. The retreat center sits on the homestead of the founders of Highlights magazine. Visitors can walk among the arrays and view the equipment and the inverter installation on October 4. Boyds Mills is an active retreat center, so guests are asked to be respectful of staff and workshop participants during their visit.

Willow Wisp Organic Farm and the Farm Arts Collective, located in Damascus, invite visitors to explore how solar energy supports sustainable agriculture, community creativity and regional clean energy innovation. 

This stop blends education, arts and environmental stewardship, offering a structured tour and discussion focused on both residential and community solar options. This stop will also include a guided tour with SEEDS board member Jack Barnett to discuss solar energy and sustainability, as well as community solar. This tour takes place on October 4 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Sign up

To attend any of the Wayne County tour sites, RSVP to receive street addresses and directions, or explore additional sites throughout the region through the National Solar Tour website above.

The ASES National Solar Tour is the largest annual grassroots solar event in the United States. It connects communities with real-world examples of solar technology and sustainable design, helping accelerate the transition to clean energy nationwide.

SEEDS is local nonprofit serving Pike, Wayne, Monroe and Lackawanna counties. It strives to maintain a vision of a future in which community is a model for a sustainable and healthy future, using efficiency, conservation, renewable energy and local food production for the good of all. For more information on SEEDS, visit www.seedsgroup.net.