Plug-in solar panels gain traction as 30 states move to legalize the DIY energy option

More than half of U.S. states are now planning to legalize plug-in solar technology, according to a report from TechRadar, as Massachusetts simultaneously advances its own legislation to permit the portable panels. The tech, which allows residents to connect small solar units directly to standard outdoor outlets, is positioned as a lower-cost alternative to traditional rooftop installations.

"Plug-in solar gives residents a way to save money on electricity without the expense of rooftop solar panel installations," TechRadar reported. The DIY energy boom, as the outlet described it, comes amid a record high for home battery installations, signaling a broader shift toward consumer-driven home energy.

In Massachusetts, both the Senate and House are moving omnibus energy bills that include provisions to enable plug-in solar. The Boston Globe detailed that the systems are "small, portable solar units that consumers can install on balconies, porches, or in backyards and plug directly into standard outdoor outlets to reduce electricity bills." The Globe noted that such technology is already common in parts of Europe.

While the two chambers of the Massachusetts legislature disagree on other aspects of their energy legislation, they have advanced the plug-in solar provisions in parallel. The coordinated state-level activity, combined with the national trend reported by TechRadar, suggests that regulatory barriers to plug-in solar are falling rapidly across the country.