Bill McKibben & NYers Share Solar Success Stories As Albany Lawmakers Move Closer To Legalizing Plug-In Solar

ALBANY, NY (05/26/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, leading climate advocate Bill McKibben and New Yorkers from across the state held a virtual press conference with state lawmakers and industry experts to share their experiences with plug-in solar panels and urge state lawmakers to pass the Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act (S.8512B / A.9111B) before the end of session. 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. The bill already passed the Senate unanimously and the Assembly Energy Committee earlier this month - meaning it's now awaiting a final vote in the Assembly before heading to the Governor for her signature.

Passing the SUNNY Act would bring New York 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. New York's direct neighbors, New Jersey and Vermont, also have bills that have passed one house of their legislatures.

Watch a recording of the event here.

View images from New Yorkers who have set their panels up here.

"I'm typing these words on a computer powered in part by the electrons pouring down from the sun and into my balcony solar system - which took literally three minutes to install. There's no reason the clean energy revolution should be only for suburbanites with big rooflines; as millions of Europeans have discovered, the sun shines on apartments too!" said Bill McKibben, author, educator, activist, and founder of Third Act.

During the virtual press conference, residents from Buffalo, the Hudson Valley, New York City and more shared how easy the installation process for plug-in solar panels is and how it has improved their homes. Kathryn Kassner, a resident of Hillsdale, said, "Plug-in solar is a simple and affordable way to produce some of our own energy to lower our energy bills. We mounted our solar panels on the front of our garage in an afternoon. It was so easy that we hope to get another one someday, and it makes me happy to be harvesting the power of the sun, knowing that we are doing our part to protect the environment while saving money."

Marcel Stokes, a resident of Buffalo, also urged lawmakers to pass the SUNNY Act, stating, "I'm a recent retiree on a fixed income, so energy costs are very important to me... I recently became a recipient of the balcony solar panel that was started in my home and I am looking forward to seeing the results from that. With the higher cost of living, those little increases are insurmountable, so these kinds of programs and solutions are very important. That's why I support the SUNNY Act, and I encourage the Assembly to pass it."

"We can tackle the cost of living crisis and cut pollution at the same time by shifting off of dirty energy and unleashing affordable solar. Plug-in solar panels are cheap, easy-to-install, and make clean power accessible to everyone - especially those of us in apartment buildings. Right now, decades-old red tape means not everyone can benefit from this new technology. Lawmakers should pass the SUNNY Act before the end of session so all New Yorkers can take their power back into their hands!" said Priya Mulgaonkar, Director of the Green Co-op Council.

In addition to local residents, industry experts, environmentalists, and state lawmakers shared how passing the SUNNY Act will enable all New Yorkers to safely create their own power while lowering their energy bills. The press conference follows weeks of demonstrations across the state 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."