Balcony Gold

Opinion

Plug-in solar seems like odd phrasing. I mean, isn’t all solar plugged in? Technically yes, but, with traditional solar, usually an electrician does the plugging, and a single family house gets plugged. “Plug-in solar” means no electrician is needed. Just plug it into your wall outlet and start saving money.

Until now, home solar in the US has largely been for homeowners with plenty of money lying around to invest and the knowledge that they won’t have to move anytime soon. This has not been the case in Europe, where apartment dwellers are permitted to put solar on their balconies and plug it directly into their wall. Germany has at least 1 million balcony units reducing electricity bills and helping meet climate goals as we speak.

Now, the idea of plug-in solar is starting to gain traction in the US. In 2025, Utah passed a law that allows portable solar generation devices up to 1,200 watts and removes requirements related to interconnection, utility approval, and permitting. Virginia recently followed suit. This means that homeowner and apartment dwellers alike could go to the store, buy a system, and plug in that day. Not only will plug-in solar lower electricity bills, but people will be able to invest in their energy security by putting up solar that they own and can take with them when they move.

In both Utah and Virginia, the legislation passed either unanimously or by ridiculous margins. A typical plug-in system costs between $500-$2000 and has a payback of 3-5 years, depending on your electricity prices and how much sun you have access to. Because the systems can move with the renter and systems can last 20+ years, the payback really adds up. Here is an estimate:

Individual Household with a 1.2 kw Balcony Panel

Estimated System Cost $900

Electricity at 0.3 / kWh and 0.23 tons / kWh CO2

If 100,000 of the estimated 1 million renters in Massachusetts took advantage of plug-in solar, that comes to $30 million in utility savings per year and 23,000 tons CO2/year avoided. That’s equivalent to buying bay-staters 66,000 Nintendo Switch 2’s and taking between 4 and 5 thousand cars off the road. At a time when everyone is complaining about utility prices, plug-in solar is an easy win, and don’t we deserve an easy win right now?

If you want to make plug-in solar a reality, you can tell your reps to support the plug-in solar provisions in Massachusetts House of Representatives bill H.5151. You can read a bit more here: Balcony solar bills make inroads across New England | Canary Media, and here: Massachusetts House Energy Bill Passed with Massive Improvements Except One Terrible Section