As a working mom of two from the Bronx, I’m always looking for ways to cut down my energy bills, fight fossil fuel pollution and safeguard my children’s future, so when I had the chance to try out a balcony solar panel as part of a campaign for the SUNNY Act, I jumped at the chance.
With this solar panel I can harness the abundant, free energy of that sun, producing electricity myself that I usually pay Con Ed for. It’s good for the earth and it’s good for my wallet. But here’s the thing: small, plug in panels like the one I have on my balcony are not yet accessible to New Yorkers because of our state’s slow, red-tape laden permitting process for rooftop residential solar.
The Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act (A9111/S8512) sponsored by Manhattan state Sen. Liz Krueger and Brooklyn Assemblywoman Emily Gallagher, would cut the red tape, making these portable, affordable panels accessible to millions of New Yorkers, unlocking access to affordable solar power for millions of New Yorkers who cannot install rooftop solar — whether because they are renters, coop or condo owners like me, or can’t afford the upfront cost of a rooftop array.
If passed, this legislation would make it possible for anyone in New York to buy a nationally certified solar system for a few hundred dollars and plug it into a standard wall outlet. Plug-in solar can be installed on balconies, decks, in backyards, on patios, and even in schoolyards. They’re unobtrusive, and they have a big impact.
Around the world, countries like Germany and Canada already have millions of balcony solar units in use, simultaneously lowering planet-warming emissions and the cost of electricity for working families. This doesn’t just help the individual families who have their own balcony solar panels — it lowers costs for everyone by reducing strain on the energy grid.
Now the movement for balcony solar has arrived in the United States. Last year, Utah passed balcony solar legislation with bipartisan support. And across the country, 28 states have introduced legislation for plug-in solar and. With its massive economy, New York could transform the market for these small-scale solar units nationwide, and pave the way for passage in other states.
As Donald Trump wages war on renewable energy driving up both electricity prices and emissions, the SUNNY Act would literally put power back in New Yorkers’ hands, giving millions of families like mine access to affordable, clean energy at a critical moment for our state, and for our planet. Especially in the Bronx, where generations of families like mine have suffered environmental burdens like asthma, putting clean power generation in working families’ is a step towards a more just future.
Legislators in Albany would do well to heed the momentum behind balcony solar and pass the SUNNY Act this session, so working New Yorkers like me can lower our bills, cut pollution and support a clean energy transition, all from the comfort of our balconies or backyards
Phillips is a climate activist, attorney, and mom who is hosting the first balcony solar panel in the Bronx.