Many Oregonians are among the 53 million households nationwide who cannot install rooftop solar. They may not be able to afford rooftop solar, or they may live in a rental with no rooftop access. For those who face financial, physical, or regulatory restrictions, plug-in solar offers an affordable solution!
Plug-in solar – sometimes called “balcony solar” – is a simple “plug-and-play” solar panel that can be easily installed. The panel connects to a device that converts solar power to the electricity we use in our home. It plugs into a standard outlet and can provide up to 800 watts, enough to run a small fridge or a laptop. It is affordable in large measure because it reduces “soft” costs (non-hardware costs) of rooftop solar. And the plug-in panels are portable, so renters can take them when they move. There are many places to plug-in solar panels, such as on a balcony, on the top of a carport, or on an RV.
Plug-in solar has taken off in Germany, where an estimated 3 million “balcony solar” kits are in operation. In the United States, Utah’s legislature unanimously passed a bill this spring – signed by the governor – exempting portable solar devices like balcony solar from state regulations that require interconnection agreements with the local utility.
Why hasn’t plug-in solar taken off in Oregon?
There are 3 main barriers: technical, utility interconnection, and regulatory. First, the solar panels must be technically safe in the U.S. electrical system (for instance, have “safe plugs”). Second, utilities have authority to regulate electrical use inside of homes, and currently, they do not permit plug-in solar in Oregon. Third, nationwide codes and standards, such as Underwriters Laboratory, which certifies appliances, have not approved plug-in solar.
What can we do to achieve plug-in solar in Oregon?
Making plug-in solar viable will require education and advocacy by the solar industry, consumer advocates, the media, and others. As Utah has demonstrated, there is broad support for plug-in solar. Few pieces of legislation achieve unanimous support! And costs can and should come down.
Plug-in solar – like all forms of distributed renewable energy – empowers and enables consumers to actively participate in more affordable and cleaner energy. As one more way to go solar, it helps to unshackle us from expensive, dangerous, and unhealthy fossil fuels. As Bill McKibben say recently in Rolling Stone, “Solar is liberation.”
Contact your Oregon State Senator and Representative and let them know you want legislation allowing plug-in solar power solutions! Let’s make Oregon the second state to permit plug-in solar.
In the upcoming months, Third Act Oregon will be advocating for enabling legislation for plug-in solar and other important clean energy initiatives. These include instant permitting, Making Polluters Pay, amending the state constitution to ensure people’s right to a healthy environment, and more.
If you are interested in joining Third Act Oregon’s Citizen Advocacy Action Team (CAAT), let us know! Contact us at oregon@thirdact.org.