By Zenon Christodoulou
Continuing her efforts to reduce energy prices in New Jersey, Governor Mikie Sherrill signed legislation that will help homeowners and renters reduce their electricity bills while decarbonizing the environment. When the law goes into effect, residents in the Garden State will be able to install solar panels on their property and generate free electricity. They won’t need cumbersome approvals from their local utility or special equipment. They will be able to simply place a few panels where the sun shines and plug them into an existing wall outlet.
New Jersey is one of a growing number of states that will allow residents to install up to 1,200 watts of solar panels without needing burdensome approvals or complex designs. When the sun shines, clean, renewable, and free electricity will flow directly into their homes or apartments – immediately lowering energy bills.
This is a good step towards democratizing solar energy, eliminating unnecessary red tape and lowering consumer costs.
As this program takes hold and expands across the country, we should consider what the mature market will look like and how we can maximize society-wide benefits.
If a homeowner surfs the web to buy a solar panel, they would be hard-pressed to find one that is domestically manufactured.
Chinese and Asian suppliers have flooded the U.S. market for years and now dominate the global trade of ready-to-install solar panels. This is not surprising. The vast majority of the world’s solar supply chain, from raw material to finished panels, resides in Asia. Fortunately, innovations and investments in U.S. manufacturing are catching up quickly. U.S. production of solar panels, for example, has doubled in 2025 and is up 440% over two years.
This is the result of widespread support for policies that wisely aim to bring solar manufacturing back to the U.S., a move that has already created thousands of jobs and billions in investment. In fact, one of the very few energy policies introduced by the Biden Administration that has received continued support from the Trump Administration is the 45x advanced manufacturing tax credits. These support U.S. manufacturing of solar energy and battery components.
Plug-in balcony solar is a great policy that can bring quick relief to increasing energy bills. But relying on foreign monopolies is an oversight we should not overlook. States like New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, Maryland, and other states that want to lead on energy affordability should partner with domestic researchers and manufacturers to put American-made panels on American homes.
By supporting domestic solar panel manufacturing, the U.S. will expand investment in advanced manufacturing, secure supply chains that can withstand trade disputes and price fluctuations, and encourage clean, affordable, American energy production. It will also help America achieve energy independence, energy abundance, and deliver jobs.
Plug-in balcony solar programs will allow people to generate their own electricity, cut carbon emissions, and reduce their energy bills.
Bringing domestic manufacturing home will create a sustainable market that homeowners and renters can rely on while providing them with dependable pricing, consistent quality, and lower costs.
There are encouraging signs that a clean, affordable, and sustainable energy future is within our grasp. Responding to consumer markets by encouraging domestic innovation and production has always allowed America to create world-leading industries. It’s time for us to learn from our own lessons and support the local industries that will define America’s future and change the world.
Dr. Zenon Christodoulou
Commissioner Emeritus, NJ Board of Public Utilities
Senior Fellow, CESAC, Montclair State University
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