Germany's Top Plug-In Solar Expert Explains Why It'll Work in America: Craig Morris

As energy costs have risen in the US, so has the popularity of plug-in solar. We’ve been tracking American plug-in solar legislation for more than six months now, and excitement is building across the country. People are very excited by the idea that they could just buy solar and plug it in without approval, to lower their utility bills without permission from their utility companies. Critics of plug-in solar legislation often say that there’s no way it can be done safely. Proponents of legislation point to the fact that this has been done safely for more than a decade in Europe with almost no downside. Now, there’s no question that Americans overromanticize European ideas. But in this specific case, they’re right to do so. In today’s episode, Aaron talks with Craig Morris, executive director of the Bundesverband Steckersolar (the German Plug-In Solar Association). Craig has spent 25 years explaining Germany’s energy transition, and now runs the trade group behind the world’s first safety standard for plug-in solar kits.Listen to this episode here, or on:YouTubeApple PodcastsSpotifyConnect with Craig on LinkedIn here.Learn more about the German Plug-In Solar Association at bundesverband-steckersolar.de (you can translate the site into English with the menu in the upper right-hand corner). Expect to learn:Why Plug-In Solar took off like a rocket in Germany How Craig and his association have helped guide German policy so that balcony solar stays accessible and fair for consumers (and what we can learn from that as we’re pushing for our own policies)What a kilowatt-hour from one of these systems actually costs. Quote from the episode:“If your balcony cannot support two drunk people leaning against it in the evening, you probably need to fix that balcony. And if it can support your party, however many people leaning up against it for forty-five minutes, it’ll be fine with the solar.”— Craig Morris