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Like the name suggests, plug-in solar panels can be plugged into an electrical outlet just like you would your toaster. But instead of using electricity, they send power back to be used elsewhere in the home.

In most of the country, plug-in solar is neither illegal nor legal. But energy policy consultant Bentham Polis, who's also a senior researcher with the Clean Energy States Alliance, says a growing number of states are passing laws to help spell out the rules around the technology.

Discussed in this episode:

Instagram video from The Garbage Queen

“How do plug-in solar panels work and how are they installed?” from The Independent

“What States Need to Know About Plug-In Solar” from Clean Energy States Alliance