E138: The Solar Revolution You Don't Need a Rooftop For

If you’re on a mission to make your home greener, solar panels might seem like an obvious place to start. But for renters, apartment dwellers, and homeowners who can’t afford a traditional rooftop solar installation, solar has long been out of reach — until now.This week on Everybody in the Pool, Molly talks with Cora Stryker, co-founder of Bright Saver, about a simple climate technology that's already taken Europe by storm: plug-in solar.Also known as balcony solar, these small solar systems can be installed without contractors, plugged directly into a standard outlet, and start generating electricity immediately. More than 4 million systems are already in use in Germany, but in the United States, regulations have kept the technology largely off the market.In this episode, Cora explains how plug-in solar could open up access to clean energy and lower electricity bills for millions of renters and homeowners. She also shares how Bright Saver is driving a wave of legislation across the country aimed at making these systems legal.We talk about:What plug-in solar is and how it worksWhy millions of Europeans already use balcony solar systemsHow renters and apartment residents can benefit from generating their own electricityWhy traditional rooftop solar remains so expensive in the United StatesThe regulatory roadblocks slowing adoption, and whether safety concerns cited by utilities hold up to scrutinyHow Utah, Maine, Maryland, Virginia, and Colorado are leading the way on legalizationWhy affordability may be the key to scaling climate solutionsThe surprising coalition of climate advocates, free-market supporters, and energy-independence champions backing plug-in solarLinks:Bright Saver: https://brightsaver.orgAll episodes: https://www.everybodyinthepool.com/Join our Discord! https://discord.gg/2EsDhwQC2zSubscribe to the Everybody in the Pool newsletter: https://www.mollywood.co/Become a member for the ad-free version of the show: https://everybodyinthepool.supercast.com/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.