Rising costs of electricity are straining the monthly budgets of individuals and families across Ohio. Gas-burning power plants spew particulate matter into our air. Extractive industries are threatening our public parks and natural areas.
Roof top solar addresses some of these issues, but many Ohioans live in apartments, condominiums, or other multifamily buildings and cannot install standard solar panels. Additionally, many single family homes are not suitable for rooftop solar.
Ohioans can take action to support affordable, clean energy generation and to slow this destructive spiral. “Plug-in,” “balcony” or “portable” solar power generation is part of the solution. Balcony solar allows all Ohioans to benefit from clean, affordable solar energy and lower monthly energy bills. Ohio House Bill 755 and its companion in the Senate Bill 383 give everyone an opportunity to own their own portable solar devices, lower their monthly energy bills, and clean up our environment.
Plug-in solar units are small energy generation systems that can be placed on balconies, patios, small yards, or on the side of a building. These portable units plug in to a standard outlet and generate electricity that can be used inside the building that they are connected to.
Utah, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, Maryland, and Connecticut currently support plug-in solar, and dozens of additional states are currently considering legislation that supports plug-in solar.
Representative Tristan Rader, who is one of the bipartisan sponsors of HB 755, states: “If an Ohio household wants to safely generate a little of its own electricity, reduce its utility bill, and contribute to a cleaner environment, the law should not stand in its way. Balcony solar gives people that opportunity.”
You can take action to make portable plug-in solar available in Ohio! Tell your elected officials about the importance of moving portable solar forward in the Ohio General Assembly.
1- Call your Ohio legislator today, and talk to them about the importance of Plug-In Solar in Ohio. Here is a sample phone script to help you get started .
2- Contact the House Energy Committee Chair Adam Holmes and ask for a hearing on House Bill 755.
3- Contact the Senate Energy Committee Chair Rob McColley and ask for a hearing on Senate Bill 383.
For more information about plug-in or balcony solar read here:
Canary Media: Where does balcony solar stand in your state?
New York Times: The Tiny Solar Panel That Could Change America
Sierra Club: Plug-In Solar Power Could Be Coming to a Balcony Near You
Thanks for standing up and taking action to support clean energy in Ohio!