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New York apartment dwellers may soon have a new addition competing for precious window and balcony space: solar panels.
A bill headed to Governor Kathy Hochul's desk would legalize so-called "balcony solar" systems across New York, letting residents hang small plug-in solar panels from windows, balconies and other approved spaces and connect them directly to a standard electrical outlet.
The legislation, known as the Solar Up Now New York Act (or the SUNNY Act), was approved by the state Legislature last week and could open the door for millions of renters and apartment residents to generate a little of their own electricity without needing a rooftop, backyard or complicated installation process.
The concept is already common in parts of Europe, particularly Germany, where plug-in solar panels have become a popular way for apartment residents to reduce electricity costs. Under the New York proposal, residents would be allowed to use systems generating up to 1,200 watts of power, as long as the equipment meets safety standards and complies with local fire codes.
"I know New York City's itching to do it, as well as several of the other cities in the state," Assemblymember Emily Gallagher, who sponsored the legislation, told Gothamist. "And it's going to allow people to create just a small amount of green renewable energy themselves that they can use in their own house."
The measure would also eliminate one of the biggest hurdles facing small-scale solar users by allowing systems to be connected without prior approval from a utility company. Residents would still need to notify their utility provider within 30 days of installation.
Notably, even utility companies appear relatively comfortable with the proposal. In a memo circulated to lawmakers, Con Edison said the legislation strikes an "appropriate balance" between expanding clean-energy access and maintaining grid reliability, noting that the small systems pose minimal risk to the electric grid.
Advocates have framed the bill as much a practical affordability measure as an environmental one. "The SUNNY Act will open the door for millions more New Yorkers to have access to cheap, clean solar power," State Senator Liz Krueger said in a statement. "This is a small but important step to help New Yorkers fight climate change, save money, and claim real energy independence."
The bill wouldn't guarantee every New Yorker can install a panel, however. Landlords, co-op boards and homeowner associations could still impose their own restrictions on balcony or window-mounted systems.