Project Traits
State: Utah
Congressional District: Unknown
Organization Type: State Government
Partner Organization(s) Type: None or Unknown
Energy Sector: Clean Power
Energy Subsector: Solar
Project Start Year: 2025
Project Launch Year: Unknown
Government Support Received: Unknown
Outcomes & Impacts
Private Investment: Unknown
Jobs Announced or Created: Unknown
People Served: Unknown
Projected Economic Impact: Unknown
Affordable, portable clean energy is on the brink of becoming widespread in the U.S., thanks to Utah leading the way in making the stars — and solar panels — align.
Plug-in solar panels — sometimes called “balcony solar” — allow people to generate electricity by plugging panels directly into a standard outlet and help cut down on utility bills, without the need for expensive rooftop installations. The relatively cheap technology has taken off in parts of Europe, and recent Utah law has sparked interest across the U.S.
Utah lawmakers passed HB 340 in 2025 with bipartisan and unanimous support, becoming the first state to allow residents to plug solar systems directly into residential outlets.
“It’s great for anyone who wants a little solar power but does not want to pay $30,000 for a roof install,” said Rep. Raymond Ward, R-Bountiful, who sponsored the bill.
Ward learned about plug-in solar panels after reading an article about their popularity in Germany. Balcony panels there added 10 percent more solar capacity to the grid in just a few months, The New York Times reports, just as Russia’s war with Ukraine was draining energy supplies.
A year after HB 340 passed, 30 more states plus the District of Columbia have drafted similar bills, according to information tracked by the plug-in solar lobbying group Bright Saver.
An inverter, which brings electricity from the solar panels into the home and shuts down generation to ensure safety, currently costs about $300 and is only available in Utah for now. A system that includes a battery to store solar energy costs $1,200. And compatible solar panels run between $250 to $1,000, depending on the size of the array...The panels could also amp up an entirely new market for clean energy. The balcony solar movement comes at a time when the Trump administration is slashing subsidies for wind and solar projects, even as energy bills are expected to spike due to demands from data centers and artificial intelligence, Craft noted.