ALBANY -- Yesterday, the New York State Legislature passed the Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act (A.9111C/S.8512C), bringing the bill one step closer to becoming law! The bill will now head to the Governor's desk for her signature.

The SUNNY Act will remove red tape and legalize "balcony solar," the small, plug-in solar panels that everyday families can use to lower their energy bills and generate renewable energy. If Governor Hochul signs the bill, the law will bring New York State in line with other states including Utah, Connecticut, Maryland, Maine, Virginia, Colorado, and New Hampshire that have all passed similar bills in the last year, and will enable all New Yorkers to start generating their own clean, affordable power simply by plugging in eligible solar panels that can be purchased online or at a store.

"The SUNNY Act will open the door for millions more New Yorkers to have access to cheap, clean solar power, be part of the solution to the climate crisis, and shave a little bit off their electricity bill every month. Once the market for plug-in solar fully matures, like it already has in Germany, New Yorkers will be able to simply walk into a store, pay a few hundred bucks for a system, take it home and plug it in like any other appliance, and start saving hundreds of dollars every year. SUNNY is a small but important step to help New Yorkers fight climate change, save money, and claim real energy independence," said lead Senate sponsor Liz Krueger.

The Legislature's passage of the SUNNY Act comes after months of work from advocates and everyday people to educate New Yorkers about how plug-in solar panels can save families money on their bills while reducing their emissions. Earlier this week, New Yorkers from across the state rallied with environmentalist Bill McKibben to share their plug-in solar panel success stories, and held a press conference with state lawmakers at the Capitol to urge the Legislature to pass the bill before the end of session. Advocates also held demonstrations across the state last month to show how New Yorkers can easily use plug-in solar panels to generate renewable power, running a blender for smoothies, a cooling fan and a radio for passers-by.

ABOUT THE SUNNY ACT

The SUNNY Act would exempt plug-in solar panels from existing interconnection and net metering requirements and help make solar generation available to millions of New Yorkers who cannot currently install rooftop solar in their own homes. Plug-in solar bills have become law in Utah, Maine, Virginia and Colorado, and legislation awaits the governor's signature in Maryland. Legislation has been introduced in 30 other states.

Plug-in solar panels are small, portable solar panels that allow individuals to generate renewable energy by connecting to a standard household outlet or power source. These solar panels are becoming much more popular, especially as New Yorkers search for ways to help lower record-high gas and electric bills that are continuing to rise, and according to NPR, the panels "start shaving off part of a homeowner's or renter's utility bill right away."

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