加州州长加文·纽森周三签署了一项立法，允许居民安装小型插电式太阳能系统以应对不断上涨的电费问题；这一举措预计将推动该技术市场的快速发展。
By Todd Woody California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation Wednesday allowing residents to install small plug-in solar systems to counter soaring electricity costs, a move expected to jump-start the market for the technology.
作为美国最大的太阳能市场，加州是自2025年以来第10个批准此类政策的州。纽约州州长凯西·霍丘尔的相关法案仍在等待签署，另有近二十个州也在考虑类似的法规。
California, the largest US solar market, is the 10th state to approve plug-in solar since 2025. A bill awaits New York Governor Kathy Hochul’s signature, and almost two dozen other states are considering similar laws.
这些插电式太阳能系统（也被称为“阳台太阳能系统”）通常由2到4块太阳能电池板组成，可以插入墙上的插座中，适用于公寓露台或单户住宅的后院。它们的价格一般在300美元到2000美元之间，所产生的电力足以满足冰箱、电子产品和照明设备的用电需求，从而每年为居民节省数百美元的电费。部分型号还配备了电池，用于在用电高峰期（电价上涨时）或电网故障（如风暴或热浪导致停电时）储存电能。
Plug-in systems, also called balcony solar, usually consist of two to four solar panels that plug into a wall outlet and can be placed on apartment terraces or in backyards of single-family homes. They typically cost between $300 and $2,000 or more and generate enough electricity to power a refrigerator, electronics and lights, potentially shaving several hundred dollars a year from utility bills. Some models come with batteries to store power for use during periods of peak demand, when electricity rates spike, or when storms or heat waves knock out the grid.
“作为全球第四大经济体，加州为这类太阳能系统的应用打开了市场大门，”Bright Saver组织的联合创始人科拉·斯特赖克表示。该组织是一家位于旧金山的非营利机构，专门销售这种可自行安装的太阳能系统，并一直致力于推动该技术的合法化。“这一政策向制造商发出了明确的市场信号：投资研发、生产适用于加州市场的太阳能系统是值得的。”
“The world's fourth-largest economy has opened up the market to balcony solar,” said Cora Stryker, co-founder of Bright Saver, a Bay Area nonprofit that sells do-it-yourself plug-in solar systems and has pushed for the technology’s legalization. “It sends a clear market signal to manufacturers that it is worth their while to invest in R&D to make a California version of the balcony solar systems they are selling by the millions in Germany.”
与其它州的法规类似，加州的新法规允许居民在无需获得电力公司批准或支付高额费用的情况下安装这些系统。不过，这些系统的发电功率上限为1.2千瓦，且不能将多余的电力反馈到电网中。此外，所有设备都必须经过全国认可的检测机构的认证，居民只需在安装后通知电力公司即可。
Like laws in other states, the California bill lets residents install plug-in solar systems without seeking utility approval or paying costly fees. But the systems are limited to generating a maximum of 1.2 kilowatts and can’t feed power back to the grid. The equipment also must be certified by a nationally recognized testing lab, and California residents just need to notify their utility when they install it.
据斯特赖克透露，符合新法规要求的太阳能产品预计将于2027年初在加州上市销售。
Solar kits that comply with the new law should be available in California by early 2027, according to Stryker.
该法律允许居民在2030年1月1日之前无需公用事业许可即可安装即插即用太阳能设备。尽管该州最大的公用事业公司太平洋天然气和电力公司反对，立法者仍加入了这一截止日期。然而，阳台太阳能的支持者相信，这项技术将证明足够受欢迎，以至于立法者最终会取消这一期限。
The law allows residents to install plug-in solar without utility permission through Jan. 1, 2030. Lawmakers included the expiration date despite opposition from the state’s largest utility, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. Balcony solar proponents, however, are confident the technology will prove popular enough for lawmakers to eventually remove the deadline.
另一个障碍是争取房东和业主委员会的配合。阳台太阳能的支持者承认，在加利福尼亚州的推广将部分取决于他们是否愿意允许安装这些系统。
Another hurdle is getting landlords and homeowner associations on board. Balcony solar backers acknowledge that adoption in California will depend in part on their willingness to allow the systems.
新泽西州的一项法律禁止房东和业主委员会禁用即插即用太阳能系统，而科罗拉多州和弗吉尼亚州则赋予租户安装此类系统的权利。
A New Jersey law prohibits landlords and homeowner associations from banning plug-in solar systems, while Colorado and Virginia give tenants the right to install them.
Bright Saver联合创始人Kevin Chou表示，他预计加利福尼亚州未来的立法将赋予该州居民类似的权利。
Bright Saver co-founder Kevin Chou said he expects future California legislation to give the state’s residents similar rights.