Plug-in solar Panels Are Starting to Sprout in US Backyards – NY Times
UK Households Free to Install Plug-in Balcony Solar Panels from End of August – The Guardian
Local Events
Three local events are coming in September – stop by if you are in the neighborhood, for a chance to learn about plug-in solar:
CORVALLIS: The September meeting of the Corvallis community will focus on plug-in solar, the first of several community events in town. Tuesday, September 8, 5 – 5:45 pm Corvallis Community Center – Willow Room 2601 NW Tyler Ave, Corvallis.
The City of Corvallis Climate Action Advisory Board awarded a 2026 Green Grant to Third Act to develop presentation materials for educating the public about plug-in solar. We plan to make these presentations at various community venues including the Farmers Market, the Community Center, school classrooms, sustainability fairs, etc. We will be making our first presentation at this Sept 8th event.
EUGENE: Third Actors will host a table and plug-in solar demo at the River Celebration in Eugene along the banks of the Willamette River. Sunday, September 13, 11 am – 3 pm River Road and Park Avenue, Eugene. Grab some apple cider and produce while you’re there.
PORTLAND METRO: Finally, Third Actors will table at Lake Oswego’s 9th Annual Clean Energy and EV Fair: a fun, family-friendly event celebrating clean transportation, renewable home energy, and sustainable living. Saturday, September 19, 10 am – 2 pm. Lake Oswego United Methodist Church, 1855 South Shore Blvd, Lake Oswego.
We’ll share info about plug-in solar and Simplify Solar. The fair will offer free EV rides, info about heating and cooling your home, and pancakes cooked on induction plates (thanks to Electrify Oregon), as well as fair discounts (heat pumps and insulation) and raffle prizes.
If you’d like to learn more and help out with advocacy, send a note to us at oregon@thirdact.org.
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What is plug-in solar?
Plug-in refers to small-scale solar panels that can be used by renters and homeowners who can’t afford rooftop solar or who have roofs that aren’t suitable for it. These solar panels can be set up in a backyard, on a balcony or roof deck and plugged into a standard outlet. They can offset a portion of a household’s needs, saving money on electricity bills.
Plug-in solar is simple in other ways as well. There’s no utility interconnection agreement required, and no associated reviews or fees. And these systems must be UL certified, so they’re safe for household use and for power line workers in the event of a power outage.
A 1200W plug-in solar system costs ~$2500 today, but prices are expected to drop significantly as more states allow plug-in solar.
Benefits
- Opens up solar to ~70% of us who rent, who own homes but can’t afford rooftop solar, or have roofs that aren’t suitable for it
- Saves money on electricity bills
- When paired with a battery, allows power during an outage, enough to power a refrigerator or a life-sustaining medical device
- No fiscal impact to the State of Oregon
More information
Check out these resources:
- Plug-in Solar Guide: with a map that shows the progress of bills in each state;
- Bright Saver, a non-profit focused on education and advocacy;
- A short PBS video about people using plug-in solar in the Bay Area.
Check out this map to see progress across the country.
Hear from Bill McKibben in a wide-ranging podcast conversation with Ezra Klein (NY Times) about climate, politics, and Third Act. He touches on plug-in solar and Simplify Solar.