Balcony solar is sweeping the US, but who’s actually selling it?

MAINE MORNING STAR • July 28, 2026

A hands-on form of solar power has electrified the U.S. in the past year. Plug-in solar lets anyone hang a few panels in the sunlight and send the power straight into their wall sockets to partially offset their utility bill. It extends the benefits of clean energy, a little bit at a time, to renters and anyone else who hasn’t been able to access traditional rooftop solar. This do-it-yourself energy production has operated in a regulatory gray area, though some intrepid customers have experimented with it anyway. In just the last few months, 10 more states, including Maine, passed plug-in solar laws, and several more are still considering bills. Given the swirling uncertainties, established rooftop solar providers are hanging back, for now at least, but a handful of new players are already selling to an eager public.