For years, we’ve worked side-by-side to advance the clean energy revolution here in Vermont. We’ve made incredible progress, but for too many people, the promise of solar power is still just out of reach. That’s changing. A new generation of simple, small-scale solar systems that complement currently-available, traditional rooftop and backyard arrays has the potential to make clean energy accessible to nearly everyone.
Vermonters who are renters, live in a condo, or just have a neighbor with a tree shading their roof should not be left out of the clean energy transition. Plug-in solar systems are, as the name suggests, plug-n’-play. They don’t need roof access to operate, require no modification to your home, are renter-friendly, cost effective, and require the same time commitment as assembling an IKEA bookshelf.
That’s why we joined State Senator Anne Watson and other allies including VNRC, Renewable Energy Vermont, and the national organization Bright Saver to demonstrate one of these systems in a press conference at our new office in Montpelier announcing the launch of our Portable Solar for Vermont campaign, a new effort to legalize and promote the use of simple, plug-in solar panel systems to compliment the great rooftop and backyard solar options Vermonters already have.
Join us in calling for legislation to enable the home use of portable, plug-in solar in Vermont and to protect solar broadly in the face of attacks from Trump and the national GOP. Sign the petition today.
These aren’t your typical rooftop arrays. We’re talking about small, affordable, portable systems that you can set up on your porch, patio, balcony, or sunny patch of lawn – then you just plug them directly into a standard electrical outlet. It’s a simple, powerful way for thousands of Vermonters to cut their energy costs and reduce carbon pollution.
These systems are a win for consumers, but in Vermont there are a few obstacles holding them back. Our current laws and regulations were designed around larger, traditional solar installations and are unnecessarily complex for these simple, small-scale systems.
That’s why we’re urging Vermont’s lawmakers to adopt common sense legislation to cut through the regulatory red tape and fees to make purchasing and installing “portable” solar systems easy for everyone. Just notify your utility at no cost to you, plug in to an exterior wall outlet, and go. There are even systems available that include a battery backup for energy storage in the event of a power outage.
This is a common-sense solution whose time has come, and it’s already generating a lot of excitement. Our campaign to push for a bill in the upcoming legislative session has already been covered by VTDigger, WAMC, and The Bridge.
This is about energy democracy. It’s about making sure the benefits of solar power are available to everyone.