US 45 States Expand Plug-in Solar Permitting with 284 Distributed Solar Policies

A growing movement is emerging to allow plug-in solar systems without major construction, shifting distributed solar policy discussions from net metering focus to consumer accessibility and grid cost allocation challenges. The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center report reveals 45 states and Washington, D.C., are reviewing or advancing 284 policies related to distributed solar. Net metering rules (53) lead the policy count, followed by community solar (48), residential rate hikes (45), and interconnection rules (42). Plug-in solar policies total 37. These systems, which connect small solar devices to home electrical infrastructure, reduce installation costs compared to traditional rooftop solar. By mid-2026, 25 states had reviewed related legislation, with seven additional states enacting laws in the second quarter. Utah was the first to legalize plug-in solar in 2023. New Jersey and New York await final approval, while California, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, and Pennsylvania continue legislative reviews. Many bills exclude plug-in solar from existing interconnection processes to reduce regulatory burdens.