Balcony Solar Costs $285. Why Is It Still So Hard to Get?

<p>In Germany you pick up a solar panel at IKEA or the grocery store and plug it in at home.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here you order online, the cheapest kits can take four months to arrive, and in most states you still technically need your utility's permission to install it.</p><p><br /></p><p>Cora Stryker co-founded Bright Saver, a nonprofit that sells the kits at cost, $285 for a 180 watt system. They helped draft Utah's balcony solar bill, the first in the country, and have since worked with legislators in 35 states and DC. Nine have passed laws so far.</p><p><br /></p><p>In this episode:</p><ul><p><br /></p></ul><ul><li>Why some states make you hire an electrician to plug in an appliance</li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li>What a $285 panel takes off a monthly bill, and how fast it pays for itself</li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li>The emails from PG&amp;E that killed Bright Saver's first business model</li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li>The for-profit company that rewrote one state's bill so only its own product would be legal</li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li>Why balcony solar has bipartisan support</li></ul><p><br /></p><ul><li>When Cora thinks you'll be able to buy one at Walmart</li></ul><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Submit a question to Ask Jigar: <a href="https://octopusenergy.com/ask-jigar" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://octopusenergy.com/ask-jigar</a></p><p><br />S2G Investments: <a href="https://www.s2ginvestments.com/insights/report-illusion-of-crowds" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://www.s2ginvestments.com/insights/report-illusion-of-crowds</a></p><p><br />Octopus Energy: <a href="https://octopusenergy.com/faas" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://octopusenergy.com/faas</a></p><p><br />Our merch store: <a href="https://energy-empire.bonfire.com/collection/all-products" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">https://energy-empire.bonfire.com/collection/all-products</a></p><p><br /></p>