Balcony solar units typically cost several hundred dollars compared to traditional rooftop solar panels, with price tags well into the thousands. (Adobe Stock)
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By Freda Ross
Mar 26, 2026
Around 48,000 homes across Mississippi are powered by solar energy.
Despite not having many state or federal incentives, the solar-energy industry is thriving in the Magnolia State, and new plug-in solar units could help more residents take advantage of the cost savings.
Will Mulhern, electricity program director for the nonprofit Fresh Energy, said balcony solar setups are much smaller and can even be used by renters.
“So when you think about rooftop solar, a lot of folks will generate electricity and then they’ll sell that back to the power grid,” he said. “But with balcony solar, it’s really just going to serve the devices that are in your home.”
Appliances and digital devices will directly soak up the captured solar power flowing into a wall outlet. Backers say this helps ease pressure on the power grid as electricity demand soars.
In 2024, Mississippi generated enough solar power to operate almost 147,000 homes.
Cora Stryker, co-founder of the national nonprofit Bright Saver, said the units are popular in Europe and American consumers don’t want to be left on the sidelines in the clean energy transition.
“Solar is the cheapest energy on the planet – full stop,” she said. “We need all forms of it everywhere, all at once. We are not in a position where we can wait any longer to reduce ordinary folks’ utility bills.”
The Utah Legislature has passed the nation’s first plug-in law and nearly 30 other states across the United States are considering bills to set standards for balcony solar.
