Solar-Powered Appliance Tour Continues In Brooklyn as NYS Considers Increasing Access to Solar

Advocates rallied for solar power outside Assemblymember Brian Cunningham's office as Albany lawmakers consider SUNNY Act, legislation that would remove red tape for simple, plug-in solar panels

BROOKLYN, NY (05/08/2026) (readMedia)-- Today, advocates for the Solar Up Now New York (SUNNY) Act (S.8512 Krueger/ A.9111 Gallagher) demonstrated how to easily power household appliances with solar energy alongside representatives from Assemblymember Brian Cunningham's office. The Brooklyn demonstration is the latest of several stops across the city showing how New Yorkers can use plug-in solar panels to generate renewable power, as the group ran a blender for smoothies, a cooling fan and a radio for passers-by.

View photos and video from the event here.

The SUNNY Act will remove regulatory red tape to small, "plug-in" solar panels, so that New Yorkers – especially renters – can take advantage of this new technology that allows them to safely create their own power, lower their own energy bills, and do their part to cut pollution and fight climate change. The Senate passed the bill unanimously last month, and now it's up to the Assembly to finish the job and bring New York one step closer to embracing solar power.

Assemblymember Brian Cunningham said, "Today, the Green Co-op Council and Spring Street Climate Fund brought the SUNNY Act to life by demonstrating how portable solar panels can power everyday essentials, showing our community that clean energy can be practical, affordable, and accessible for everyone. Too many people hear about clean energy but never get to see what it looks like in their everyday lives. The SUNNY Act helps make renewable energy tangible and accessible for renters and working families who have too often been left out of the clean energy transition. I am proud to support this legislation and grateful to Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember Emily Gallagher for championing this effort to expand access to affordable clean energy for New Yorkers."

"Plug-in solar can be a major help for New York City families with rising energy bills. This technology is already working all over the world, but we need the legislature to pass the SUNNY Act so that homeowners and renters alike can take their power back into their own hands," said Priya Mulgaonkar, Director of the Green Co-op Council.

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 and Maine, and legislation awaits the governor's signature in Colorado, Virginia, and Maryland. Legislation has been introduced in 28 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."