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Nine U.S. states have passed legislation making it easier to use plug-in solar power kits, opening a new market for renters and residents of multifamily buildings. Adoption remains tied to electrical safety, the positions of landlords and utilities, and the availability of equipment with reliable certification.
California’s legislature approved SB 868, easing requirements for connecting small solar power systems to the grid and paving the way for renters and homeowners to install them more easily. The bill still needs to complete the legislative process and be signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, with the proposed exemption expiring on January 1, 2030.
Several bills have advanced in the California Legislature to expand solar energy use through plug-in balcony systems, community solar, and connecting home batteries to the grid as part of virtual power plants. The move comes after the state’s momentum waned following a change to net-metering policy.