New Jersey has become the tenth state to pass a bill allowing residents to purchase small plug-in solar installations, bypassing longstanding utility permitting laws. The bill, which was passed this week, also expands plug-in solar access for renters by prohibiting landlords and homeowners’ associations from blocking them.
Benefits for Renters
The bill is expected to dramatically lower the barrier to entry for renters interested in solar who can’t afford or install expensive rooftop systems. According to New Jersey state Sen. John McKeon, a Democrat and the bill’s primary Senate sponsor, “At the end of the day, this is a bill for the consumer.”
The bill will head next to Democratic Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s desk. A spokesperson for the governor did not comment on whether she’d sign it, but said Sherrill is examining the bill closely, and it is in line with her focus on lowering constituents’ electricity costs.
National Trend
States are starting to codify a stealth backyard revolution that has been quietly growing in the US. Fed up with high electricity bills, consumers are starting to buy low-wattage solar systems they can plug into a regular outlet. Once connected, it feeds solar energy into a home to power appliances, rather than drawing that energy out of the home.
These panels, which can hang off outdoor balconies, aren’t big enough to power an entire home. But they can help shave money off monthly electricity bills, at a drastically lower up-front cost than a rooftop solar system, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars to install.
Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
