Plug-in solar has captured the imagination of New Yorkers and people all over the country. Nearly 53 million households nationwide cannot install rooftop solar due to cost or lack of rooftop access for renters. The small scale and innovative nature of plug-in solar means more people have access to an affordable solar alternative that can help families reduce their electricity bills by 10% or more annually.
Advocacy around the SUNNY Act serves as an especially good example for the power of coalitions. As the SUNNY Act was introduced by State Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher in the 2025-2026 Legislative Session, a SUNNY Coalition (thesunnyact.org) of mutually supportive organizations began to form. Importantly, legislative staff from the offices of the two sponsors – Krueger and Gallagher – were engaged in strategy discussions with the coalition partners from the very beginning, and they remain engaged as the bill progresses through the legislative process.
Support is growing among legislators for the SUNNY Act which literally puts power into people’s hands. Plug-in solar panels will help alleviate the rising costs of energy while improving air quality and people’s health.
— Kathy Kassner, Upstate Third Actor at SUNNY Rally & Lobby Day in Albany, NY
In January 2026, Third Act Upstate NY hosted a must-watch legislative briefing on the SUNNY Act for plug-in solar with Bill McKibben and Michael Richardson of Third Act, Senator Krueger (SUNNY Act sponsor), Assemblymember Gallagher (SUNNY Act sponsor), and Cora Stryker from Bright Saver. Special guests included Representative Raymond Ward from Utah, speaking on the passage of his state’s groundbreaking plug-in solar legislation in 2025, and Craig Morris from Bundesverband Steckersolar, who spoke to the German experience where an estimated 3 million balcony solar units are in operation.
Because plug-in solar is new to the consumer market, it raises legitimate safety concerns. Typical home electrical panels are designed to regulate electricity going out to appliances, not power coming in through a cord. Underwriters Laboratory (now known as UL Solutions), the standard-setter for consumer appliance safety, has – as of April 2026 – issued safety guidelines for plug-in solar panels, and manufacturers are rapidly submitting their products for UL certification. The corresponding building codes (state and national) specific to plug-in solar that govern the product’s installation will be developed based on UL 3700 recommendations.
As technical and safety concerns are addressed, there is legislative progress as well! As of this writing, bills similar to the SUNNY Act have been signed into law in Utah, Maine, Virginia and Colorado, with bills in Connecticut and Maryland waiting to be signed by their Governor.
Coalition Building is Key
The two working groups in New York (Upstate and NYC) collaborate constantly in all ways we can think of to celebrate and accelerate our state’s rapid transition to clean, renewable energy from the sun. SUN Day was a big moment for the celebration piece. Since then, grassroots leaders in Third Act Upstate New York and Third Act NYC have joined together again to focus on acceleration.
In early 2026, New York Third Actors launched a new collaboration called the Third Act Advocates for New York State Climate Policies. The joint group’s goal is to unify and coordinate efforts in tight-knit coalition with aligned environmental groups, legislative allies, and solar industry partners. Together, we work tirelessly on behalf of the policies and legislation that will expedite solar and grid-scale battery (BESS) expansion across the state.
Moving the bills forward ☀️
GOOD NEWS. On April 21, SUNNY passed the New York State Senate. On May 28, SUNNY Act passed the Assembly. Now on to the Governor to sign!
With our clean energy future hanging in the balance, Third Act NY Advocates will keep promoting the benefits SUNNY Act, and related legislation like New York’s Solar ASAP Act and the Residential Solar Permitting Act. Just last week, Third Actors joined a gathering of supporters – organized by the SUNNY Coalition – at the State Capitol in Albany. The only way we can win the future is by doing this work together.
