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'A whole new world': New Jersey eases restrictions on residential solar panels
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Sep 1, 2026
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Wolfram Steinberg/picture alliance via Getty Images
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Sep 1, 2026
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New Jersey residents now face fewer restrictions when installing solar panels to help power their homes with affordable, clean energy thanks to a bill signed by Gov. Mikie Sherrill on Tuesday.
The Garden State Balcony Solar Act eliminates red tape that for years limited the growth of solar technology. The law allows for homeowners to put up “plug-in” solar panels that are simple to install. Previously, New Jersey property owners’ only option for solar power was to put up expensive rooftop panels that required a lengthy approval process and a full connection to the electrical grid.
The legislation also allows renters to install their own panels, but still allows landlords to establish "reasonable restrictions" around the size and placement of the devices.
The option allows residents to lower their energy bills while also reducing climate pollution.
”Plug-in solar is going to open up a whole new world for hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents to literally be able to plug in clean energy in their homes that will not only reduce air pollution, but also save real money on people's electric bills each and every month,” said Doug O'Malley, a director at the advocacy group Environment New Jersey.
According to plug-in solar advocacy group Bright Saver, the panels can offset a home’s power usage by 10% to 25%, depending on the device’s capacity. O’Malley said the savings start at roughly $15 per month and can increase significantly by using higher-capacity panels with battery storage. The technology is common in cities like Berlin, where residents hang the panels on balconies, roofs, and around windows and doors.
New Jersey is the ninth state in the United States to pass legislation loosening restrictions around smaller residential solar panels. New York’s state Legislature passed a similar bill this year that's still awaiting the governor’s approval. Con Edison has signed on in support of the New York bill.
A typical smaller 220-watt panel is roughly 3 feet wide, a half-inch thick and weighs about 25 pounds. A bigger 1,200-watt panel can provide enough power to run a window air conditioner unit, according to Bright Saver.
The panels can be placed on yards and terraces, and many of them are light enough to be secured with zip ties on the outside of buildings. They can be plugged into any standard 120-volt outlet.
The panel takes in the sun rays and converts them into electricity that is directly used at home, instead of going to the grid like rooftop solar installations.
“For everyone who can't put regular solar panels on their roof, plug-in solar is the DIY solution,” O’Malley said. “It literally gives power to the people to plug in the clean energy right in their homes. It takes minutes, and it provides real savings on utility bills and reduces air pollution on the hottest summer days.”
Balcony solar units can cost anywhere from roughly $400 to $2,000, depending on capacity and optional battery storage, according to Environment New Jersey. Rooftop solar panels cost more than $20,000 and took several months to install.
Currently New Jersey has more than 200,000 solar installations statewide, totaling about 5 gigawatts, enough power for roughly 1 million households.
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Politics
environment
new jersey
Rosemary Misdary
Rosemary is health & science reporter. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 646-544-9524.
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