On a quiet street in suburban South Salt Lake City, Utah, an energy shift is taking shape. Three angled solar panels sit outside a spare bedroom, plugged into a nearby outlet. Unlike large rooftop systems, which require technical work and significant cost, this setup on Andrew Leon and Victoria Mauro's lawn is small, portable and inexpensive. It generates enough electricity to run laptops, lights and some appliances, including the refrigerator.
Plug-in solar, also called balcony solar, is spreading quickly across the U.S. because apartment dwellers can use it too. California is the latest state to pass a law reducing the red tape that has stymied consumers trying to generate electricity from a small number of panels. Utah was the first state to legalize balcony solar in spring 2025, and nine states have since passed similar legislation, including Colorado, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Vermont and Virginia. New York lawmakers approved a bill awaiting the governor's signature, and nearly two dozen other states have introduced measures.
Plug-in systems, typically one to three panels to stay below legal wattage limits, let users save on power bills and reduce reliance on power plants that burn fossil fuels. Joshua Pearce, an electrical engineer at Western University in Ontario, Canada, says the appeal of making your own electricity for less than a utility charges is universal. Unlike rooftop systems, which send excess power back to the grid, plug-in power stays in the home. An inverter pushes current to other outlets, and these systems typically supply 10 to 30 percent of an average home's use, according to Jennifer Eden of Utah Clean Energy. The kits are especially popular in Germany, where more than a million units have been installed in recent years.
Pearce estimates widespread adoption could save residents about $13 billion a year in electricity costs. In states with high utility rates, savings are substantial. Nick Danz, who lives in Fort Collins, Colorado, bought a one-panel unit for under $300 after Colorado passed its law. Eden notes that the technology offers an entry point into solar that costs far less than traditional installations and works for people who don't own their homes.
Source: Hacker News · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing