SOUTH JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Homeowners and renters in New Jersey now have a new way to generate some of their own electricity, after Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed “balcony solar” legislation into law on Tuesday.
Balcony solar is a simple solar panel users can hang outside and plug directly into an outlet at home, offsetting some energy usage during peak sunny hours. Before signing the bill into law, Sherrill said these can shave up to $50 a month off your bill.
“You can pick up a unit like the one we have here online or at your local home improvement store. All you need to install it is a place to hang the panel, like a balcony railing or a fence post,” she said.
Sherrill said balcony solar has been quite popular in European countries for a while, and there are at least 1 million of them in use in Germany.
“There hasn’t been a single safety issue with balcony solar, and we have strong electrical standards in place to keep it that way,” she said.
A basic unit starts at about $250 and more for larger units, so it could take a couple of years to recoup the upfront costs. New Jersey law allows for up to 1200 watts, with each panel typically generating about 400 watts.
