What Is Catching the Sun About?
The premise of Catching the Sun in 310 words, with nothing given away. The full story follows below.
Against the stark backdrop of a refinery fire in Richmond, California, this documentary opens a window onto two possible futures: one shaped by pollution, industrial decline, and familiar economic struggles, and another illuminated by the promise of clean-energy jobs. The contrast establishes the film’s urgent, thought-provoking tone, linking the environmental cost of the fossil-fuel economy to the human hopes surrounding solar power. Brief reflections on America’s early solar ambitions add historical depth, suggesting that the country’s energy trajectory reflects choices as much as technology.
In Northern California, unemployed workers receive green-collar job training through Solar Richmond, preparing for careers in the emerging solar-installation industry. Activist Van Jones stands at the center of this movement, his path from community organizing in Oakland to work in Washington, D.C., illustrating how closely the nation’s energy debate is tied to issues of work, opportunity, and public responsibility. His prominence gives the documentary both a political perspective and a deeply human face.
Meanwhile, conservative organizer Debbie Dooley challenges the idea that clean energy belongs exclusively to one side of the political spectrum. Through Conservatives for Energy Freedom, she argues that entrenched energy interests and restrictive policies can obstruct genuine free-market competition. Her presence adds an intriguing layer to the film’s central tension, revealing that the future of solar power is shaped not only by engineering and investment, but also by ideology, institutional power, and the ability to bridge political divides.
The story then widens into a global view of solar’s rapid growth in Germany, India, and China. Chinese entrepreneur Zhongwei Jiang, raised without electricity until the age of eight and founder of WesTech in 2003, brings an ambitious personal perspective to the international industrial race. His vision of a “Solar City” in Texas extends the documentary’s scope from local employment and national politics to the sweeping economic and environmental stakes of the global clean-energy revolution.
What Happens in Catching the Sun?
The complete story of Catching the Sun, from the first scene to the last, in 271 words (about 1 minute). Spoilers throughout.
Spoilers ahead
The film begins with the 2012 Chevron refinery fire in Richmond, California and contrasts the possibilities for Richmond of an energy sector based on solar installation versus continued pollution and economic stagnation from an energy industry rooted on the oil refinery. The film gives a short history of solar technology in the United States, and the road not taken when, on his first day in office, Ronald Reagan removed the solar panels Jimmy Carter had placed on the White House, and abandoned policies to further solar development.
The film features unemployed workers in Northern California receiving Green-collar job training from Solar Richmond to work in the emergent field of solar installation. Van Jones features prominently in the documentary, which depicts his early work in Green for All, his family’s relocation from Oakland to Washington, DC to take advantage of a White House job offer, and Jones’s subsequent resignation in the face of sustained attacks from conservative media.
Conservative Debbie Dooley from Atlanta, Georgia rejects an ideological divide between the left and right on clean energy. Through her organization, Conservatives for Energy Freedom, she advocates for clean energy by breaking down barriers that favor the incumbent energy industry and restrict a true free market.
While ideological gridlock weighs on American energy policy, other countries move forward. A profile on Zhongwei Jiang, a Chinese entrepreneur based in Wuxi, China gives perspective on solar growth in Germany, India, and China. Jiang, who grew up without electricity until the age of eight, founded the solar company WesTech in 2003. Jiang conducts an international business in solar products and dreams of a “Solar City” in Texas.
Catching the Sun Timeline: Every Key Event in Order
13 key events in the order they happen, from “Jimmy Carter Installs Solar Panels on the White House” to “The Dream of a Solar City in Texas”. 12 events name a place, across 7 locations.
- 1
Jimmy Carter Installs Solar Panels on the White House
President Jimmy Carter places solar panels on the roof of the White House as part of an early push to develop solar technology in the United States. The installation becomes a symbol of federal commitment to renewable energy, but also of opportunities that would soon be lost.
When:1979 Where:Washington, D.C.
- 2
Reagan Removes the Solar Panels
On his first day in office, President Ronald Reagan removes the solar panels that Jimmy Carter had placed on the White House. His administration abandons the policies meant to further solar development, marking a pivotal moment when the United States turned away from clean energy investment.
When:1981 Where:Washington, D.C.
- 3
A Childhood Without Electricity
Zhongwei Jiang grows up in China without access to electricity until the age of eight. Experiencing life without power shapes his understanding of energy's importance and later fuels his ambition to build a career in the solar industry.
Where:China
- 4
Zhongwei Jiang Founds WesTech
Jiang founds the solar company WesTech in the city of Wuxi, China. The company grows into an international business selling solar products worldwide, embodying the rapid expansion of China's solar manufacturing sector.
When:2003 Where:Wuxi, China
- 5
Van Jones Builds Green for All
Activist Van Jones does early work with Green for All, an organization dedicated to creating green jobs and bringing clean energy opportunities to underserved communities. His efforts to link environmental causes with economic justice make him one of the leading voices of the green jobs movement.
Where:Oakland, California
- 6
A White House Offer and a Move East
Van Jones receives a job offer from the Obama White House and relocates with his family from Oakland, California to Washington, D.C. The move represents a rare chance for a green jobs advocate to influence national policy from inside the administration.
When:2009 Where:Washington, D.C.
- 7
Van Jones Resigns Under Pressure
After sustained attacks from conservative media, Van Jones resigns from his White House position. His departure becomes a cautionary tale about how political polarization and media hostility can derail clean energy leadership in the United States.
When:2009 Where:Washington, D.C.
- 8
A Conservative Case for Clean Energy
Debbie Dooley, a conservative activist from Atlanta, Georgia, rejects the ideological divide between left and right on the issue of clean energy. Through her organization, Conservatives for Energy Freedom, she advocates for dismantling barriers that favor the incumbent energy industry and stand in the way of a true free market.
Where:Atlanta, Georgia
- 9
Chevron Refinery Fire in Richmond
A fire erupts at the Chevron oil refinery in Richmond, California, sending smoke over the surrounding community and exposing the risks of a local economy built around fossil fuels. The disaster stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of the city's dependence on the oil industry.
When:2012 Where:Richmond, California
- 10
Richmond at a Crossroads
In the wake of the refinery fire, Richmond faces two contrasting futures: an energy sector based on solar installation jobs versus continued pollution and economic stagnation rooted in the oil refinery. The choice confronting the city mirrors the broader energy debate playing out across the United States.
Where:Richmond, California
Show the other 3 events of Catching the Sun Hide the last 3 events
- 11
Green-Collar Job Training with Solar Richmond
Unemployed workers in Northern California receive green-collar job training from Solar Richmond, preparing them for careers in the emerging field of solar installation. The program demonstrates how the clean energy economy can create meaningful employment and opportunity for working-class communities.
Where:Richmond, California
- 12
Other Countries Move Forward on Solar
While ideological gridlock weighs on American energy policy, other countries press ahead with large-scale solar adoption. The film highlights solar energy growth in Germany, India, and especially China, where government and industry have embraced renewables far more aggressively than the United States.
- 13
The Dream of a Solar City in Texas
Zhongwei Jiang, who grew up without electricity and now runs an international solar products business, dreams of building a 'Solar City' in Texas. His vision points to a future in which solar energy transcends borders and politics to reshape communities, even in the heart of oil country.
Where:Texas
Where and When Is Catching the Sun Set?
Catching the Sun is set in Richmond, California, Wuxi and China (2012, Present). Here is why the time and place matter to the story.
When
2012, Present
The film begins in 2012, following a pivotal fire at a Chevron refinery, which highlights the pressing issue of energy sustainability. The narrative also connects historical decisions back to the policies of past U.S. presidents, showing how they have shaped the current landscape of clean energy and solar technology development.
Where
Richmond, California, Wuxi, China
Richmond, California, is a city that has faced significant challenges due to the pollution from its oil refinery. The city is now at a crossroads, as it examines the potential of transitioning to solar energy, moving away from its industrial past. Wuxi, China, is known for its rapid growth in the solar technology sector and is home to visionary entrepreneurs like Zhongwei Jiang, who aspire to revolutionize energy consumption.
- 🌆 City
- 🌍 Global
What Are the Themes of Catching the Sun?
3 ideas the story keeps returning to, among them Renewable Energy, Bipartisanship and Economic Transition.
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01
Renewable Energy
The theme of renewable energy is central to the film, illustrating the conflict between traditional fossil fuels and the promise of solar power. It emphasizes the urgent need for a transition towards sustainable energy solutions, demonstrating how this shift can impact communities and economies. The documentary champions the potential of clean energy as a means for job creation and environmental restoration.
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02
Bipartisanship
Bipartisanship emerges as a vital theme, as the documentary showcases individuals from across the political spectrum advocating for clean energy. This includes voices like Debbie Dooley, who bridge divides to promote a collective approach to energy independence. The film argues that collaboration is essential for overcoming ideological barriers in the pursuit of a healthier planet.
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03
Economic Transition
Economic transition is highlighted through the stories of unemployed workers in Northern California who receive training for green jobs. The film presents this shift as not only vital for environmental reasons but also as a means of revitalizing local economies. It showcases how investment in renewable energy can lead to new job opportunities and reduce reliance on harmful industries.
What Kind of Film Is Catching the Sun?
Hopeful in tone, with variable pacing and a moderate story, going by the plot summary.
- Tone
- Hopeful
- Pacing
- Variable
- Story
- Moderate
- Intensity
- Medium
- Ending
- Ambiguous
A sober, forward-looking documentary that balances industrial pollution and political gridlock with the practical promise of solar energy, green jobs, and global technological momentum.
- hopeful
- sober
- reflective
- urgent
- industrious
- forward looking
- clean energy
- solar power
- environmental policy
- green jobs
Content notes: industrial fire, environmental pollution, economic hardship.
Quiz
How well do you remember Catching the Sun? Test yourself on the story.
