New Jersey made plug-in solar panels legal

Governor Mikie Sherrill signed the Garden State Balcony Solar Act, legalizing portable solar systems up to 1,200 watts that plug into standard 120-volt outlets, eliminating permits, utility approval, and interconnection fees for renters and homeowners without roof-friendly properties.

The law exempts systems from net metering, so owners won't receive credits for excess power sent to the grid; savings come mainly from using solar power as it's produced.