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https://apnews.com/article/balcony-plug-solar-climate-energy-renewable-trump-c162abf520da0fa155dc971270b8684a>
"When Terrence Dwyer received a knock on his door and a flyer for a solar panel
system small enough to fit on his deck, he was quickly sold. Solar systems that
plug into regular wall outlets have been popular in Europe for years and are
gaining traction in the U.S. for their affordability and simple installation.
“We thought absolutely, let’s do this right away,” said Dwyer, who lives in
Oakland, California.
These small-scale solar systems could become attractive to more homeowners now
that President Donald Trump’s sweeping budget-and-policy package will scrap
residential rooftop solar tax credits and may shift interest to cheaper
alternatives. Even before the GOP bill passed, manufacturers of the smaller
systems known as plug-in or balcony solar were seeing increased demand and
other positive signs such as a new Utah law streamlining regulations for
homeowners to buy and install them. The systems about the size of a door
haven’t been as widely adopted in the U.S. as in Europe because of lack of
awareness, patchwork utility rules and limited availability.
The $2,000 plug-in solar system installed on Dwyer’s backyard deck in March
consists of two 400 watt panels, an inverter, a smart meter and a circuit
breaker. It saves him around $35 per month on his power bill because he is
consuming less energy from the grid, but he said reducing his carbon footprint
was his primary motivation.
“We like the environmental benefits of solar and wanted to engage with solar in
some fashion,” Dwyer said.
Had Dwyer opted for rooftop solar, he would have paid $20,000 for the system
and $30,000 to upgrade his roof to support the panels."
Via Susan ****
Share and enjoy,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
