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Gov. Mikie Sherrill signed a law Tuesday that will allow renters in New Jersey to use portable solar energy to reduce their energy bills.
Known as the Garden State Balcony Solar Act, S2368, the legislation allows renters to use small, plug-in solar panels that can fit on a balcony, patio, porch or other space. The law exempts qualifying plug-in solar systems from certain permitting and utility approval requirements.
The measure also limits the ability of landlords and homeowners associations to stop renters from using the devices.
An estimated 36% of New Jersey residents rent their homes, with the largest concentration in the northern part of the state that borders New York City.
Sherrill said the new law — which overwhelmingly passed the state Legislature earlier this year — will decrease energy bills for consumers.
“Some in politics act like we have to choose between affordability and sustainability,” the Democratic governor said. “As if lower electric bills have to come at the cost of our green spaces or the climate. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. We can protect families’ budgets and the environment at the same time.”
The state has been dealing with soaring energy bills. When Sherrill took office, she also signed an executive order declaring a state of emergency and freezing utility rate hikes.
Sherrill has also made other moves on energy policy. She recently announced New Jersey would solicit bids for new nuclear power projects. The governor also signed legislation last week requiring monitoring of how much power artificial intelligence data centers use.
Sherrill, who signed the solar bill outside the Statehouse in Trenton, stood beside a portable solar panel and plugged it in.
“Just like that, you can soak up the sun, save some money,” she said.
The bill also comes as the Trump administration has rolled back support for some solar and wind energy initiatives.
State Sen. John McKeon, D-Essex, one of the primary sponsors of the solar panel bill, said the legislation was intended to move New Jersey in the opposite direction by embracing the energy source even further.
“Today we’ll continue on that mission,” he said.
State Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, D-Middlesex, a sponsor of the Assembly version of the bill, said more energy legislation aimed at reducing costs is on the horizon.
“This is just one more step that we’re doing, and more to come where the residents could save on their energy tax bills every single month,” he said.
Traditional solar panels often must be installed facing a specific direction and can be limited by tree cover, said Doug O’Malley, state director for Environment New Jersey. Most renters can’t install rooftop solar panels because they don’t own the property.
“Plug-in solar is designed for everybody,” he said.
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