Tell your state leaders to pass a bill deregulating plug-in solar!

In early 2025, after Republican legislator Raymond Ward introduced a far-sighted bill, the state of Utah voted to legalize plug-in solar, with unanimous bipartisan support. Many Americans can’t access rooftop solar due to cost, renter status, or other reasons, and plug-in solar, aka “balcony” or “backyard” solar, allows anyone to get their own source of cheap clean power. Now, it looks like Utah could be the start of a nationwide trend, as plug-in solar deployer Bright Saver reports that Maryland state legislator Lorig Charkoudian is planning to introduce a similar bill in the next session!

The Utah bill deregulating plug-in solar simply created a new legal category for small-scale solar systems under 1200 watts, then said that small-scale solar systems were exempt from grid interconnection agreements (a notorious snarl of onerous red tape) and were allowed a small amount of back feeding. It also releases utilities of liability for small-scale solar, thus winning utility support for the measure.

This was an incredibly simple piece of legislation — just one page, with zero fiscal implications. It’s a bill that gives families the freedom to generate their own clean energy at home without maddening bureaucratic barriers.

The potential of plug-in solar technology is incredible. In Germany, more than 500,000 plug-in solar systems have been installed so far, and major retailer IKEA is now selling integrated kits including both plug-in “balcony” solar arrays and a home battery — a fully independent household clean power plant being sold for 1,229 euros.

Deregulating plug-in solar is a no-brainer for every state in America!

State leaders have a historic opportunity here to empower household energy independence for their constituents and bring forward a future where all Americans can generate their own clean, abundant, affordable electricity. Any state legislator who takes the initiative to introduce a Utah-style plug-in solar bill will be demonstrating true leadership.

Tell your state leaders to pass a bill deregulating plug-in solar!