A cheaper path to solar is here. Here’s why Georgia hasn’t joined in.

A new way for individuals to harness solar energy is becoming popular in parts of the U.S. while Georgia lags behind adopting certain policies to encourage self-generated power.

Plug-in solar, or balcony solar, could make solar energy more accessible for homeowners and renters to shrink their energy costs. Systems range from $500 to more than $4,000 making them significantly more affordable that traditional rooftop solar, which can cost around $30,000.

The concept has been popular in Europe for years, and parts of the U.S, specifically California, have been quick to jump on board the trend. 

Adrien Webber, the director of the Georgia Sierra Club, said people all over the world are starting to adopt balcony solar because of ongoing conflicts that create instability in fossil fuel markets, such as the wars in Iran and Ukraine.

“We’re kind of already starting to see it in California and some other states because people are realizing that they can produce their own power. We call it energy freedom,” he said.

But, utility companies are not very happy with this change, he said.

“They make money off of charging you for power. So, if you start producing your own power with an unlimited resource like the sun, it’s something that they don’t like and their shareholders don’t like,” Webber said. “We are huge advocates of taking energy into your own hands, giving you that freedom to have a choice of how you power your home.”

A typical 400-800 watt system costs between $500 and $1,500 and can generate enough electricity to shave roughly $15-$50 off an electric bill per month, according to Energy Sage.

In the U.S., 23 states have active bills regarding plug-in solar with two states having fully passed legislation on the topic, according to Bright Saver’s legislation tracker.

However, Georgia lawmakers did not pass any legislation this year to allow for plug-in solar. State Rep. Imani Barnes, D-Tucker, introduced House Bill 1304 that would exempt balcony solar from certain regulatory requirements that apply to rooftop solar. Although the bill had bipartisan support, it never received a vote in committee.

During a hearing for the bill, critics expressed concerns about the safety of the devices and whether a blanket exemption for interconnection agreements with utility companies was prudent, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Webber said a lot of misinformation gets disseminated from utility companies and the fossil fuel industry to discourage the use of clean energy.

“I think that people want to believe the easy talking points from the fossil fuel industry, where in fact, if you read between the lines of what they’re saying and you poke at things a little bit more, you’ll see that what they’re saying is actually not true,” he said.

The issue of safety could be addressed soon. The concern is that the devices could send power back onto the grid and could endanger the lives of lineworkers. UL Solutions, a global safety science company, created a certification program for the devices late last year and is working with manufacturers to achieve certification.

A company spokesperson told the AJC that they expect to issue their first certification in the next few months.