PLUS: UK legalizes plug-in solar nationwide, Georgia's secret OpenAI energy deal, and solar outperforms nuclear during European heatwaves

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Good morning. California just eliminated the utility veto over balcony solar, passing legislation that lets renters and apartment dwellers plug panels directly into wall outlets without permission. SB 868 cleared the Senate 35-1 and heads to Governor Newsom's desk, making California the tenth state to remove interconnection barriers for small-scale solar.

The timing matters: UK retailers started stocking plug-in solar this week following nationwide legalization, while European heatwaves exposed the fragility of 'reliable' baseload power. French nuclear shut down 11 GW because rivers were too hot, while solar ran 17% above normal and kept the grid stable.

In today's Solarpunk Currents:

• California's balcony solar bill breaks utility gatekeeping
• UK legalizes plug-in solar as major retailers stock systems
• Georgia approves secret 3.2 GW OpenAI data center deal
• Solar outperforms nuclear and coal during deadly European heat

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California breaks utility gatekeeping: Balcony solar bill heads to governor

The Bottom Line: California's legislature passed SB 868, eliminating interconnection agreements for plug-and-play solar systems up to 1,200W. Renters and apartment dwellers can now plug panels directly into standard wall outlets without utility permission. The Senate approved the bill 35-1, and it heads to Governor Newsom's desk with 30 days for signature.

The Story: The bill passed after electrical workers unions broke ranks with utilities and went neutral on the legislation, a rare shift that removed a traditional barrier to solar access. Meanwhile, utilities secured a 2030 sunset clause requiring the legislature to reauthorize the exemption. The strategy is transparent: let the market grow just enough to claim they're not blocking it, then force another fight when they've had time to organize opposition.

By the numbers:

• A single 400W balcony system costs around $500 and saves roughly $250 per year, covering 14% of average apartment electricity usage, according to the Environmental Working Group
• California electricity rates nearly doubled over the past decade, making the state's energy prices the nation's second-highest
• Extreme heat events increased 55% statewide, while soaring utility bills leave millions unable to afford air conditioning needed for safety
• Germany installed over 4 million balcony solar systems, proving the model works at scale
• Systems must be UL-certified, auto-shutoff within seconds during grid outages, and are capped at 1,200W (enough for fridges, lights, WiFi routers, and AC units)

What remains: The utilities-backed sunset clause kills the interconnection exemption on January 1, 2030, forcing the legislature to fight this battle again in four years. Nine other states already removed similar barriers, but California's market size makes it the biggest prize and the biggest threat to utility control over distributed energy.

UK legalizes plug-in solar nationwide as major retailers stock systems

The Bottom Line: Starting August 27, residents in England, Wales, and Scotland can install plug-in solar systems up to 800W without certified installers or planning permission following regulatory amendments to UK plug and electricity safety standards. The systems cover up to 20% of average household electricity use and save up to £110 ($150) annually. Unlike previous UK regulations that restricted plug-in solar while European markets like Germany widely adopted it, the new rules put British households on par with continental neighbors.

The Story: Argos, Screwfix, Amazon, and Currys are stocking plug-in solar alongside garden furniture and power tools this fall. Screwfix confirmed it will offer systems to customers starting this autumn, while Argos managing director Graham Biggart said the catalogue retailer is "really pleased to now offer plug-in solar panels" to its customer base. Plug-in solar has moved from specialty equipment to mainstream home improvement product in the UK market.

By the numbers:

• 800W maximum capacity per household installation, no certified installer required (UK government regulation change)
• Up to 20% of average household electricity covered by plug-in systems (UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
• Up to £110 ($150) annual electricity bill savings per household (UK government estimate)
• 77% of UK households lack air conditioning as climate heats (context for why accessible electricity solutions matter)

What remains: Plug-in battery storage devices are excluded from the regulatory change pending a safety review by the Energy Storage Association, which is evaluating plug-in battery products sold globally. UK battery regulations currently require outdoor installations and certified installer checks of household wiring, standards that don't translate to plug-in devices.

Georgia approves 3.2 GW data center deal with no public vote

The Bottom Line: Georgia Public Service Commission staff approved a 3.2 GW contract between Georgia Power and OpenAI for a hyperscale data center in Effingham County without a direct vote from elected commissioners. The approval bypassed public accountability, with staff and Georgia Power co-releasing a joint letter instead of holding a transparent review.

The Story: Sierra Club's Hannah Baker called it "a reckless rush to build A.I. data centers with no regard to the communities they impact." Maggie Shober from Southern Alliance for Clean Energy noted the letter "appears designed to alleviate the public's concerns" but left key questions unanswered: how Georgia Power calculates the cost to serve these data centers, and what protections exist if the data center uses less power than contracted.

By the numbers:

• 3.2 GW of committed capacity, roughly equivalent to three nuclear reactors worth of electricity
• Staff approval used instead of elected commissioner vote, per joint PSC-Georgia Power statement
• No formal commission authority currently exists on future large load contracts under current rules

What remains: The PSC has no rules requiring elected commissioners to vote on massive energy contracts. Georgia ratepayers have no protection against cost increases if OpenAI's data center uses less power than contracted, and no public process exists to review how utilities calculate costs for these deals.

Solar supplied Europe's power while 'reliable' nuclear and coal shut down in deadly heat

The Bottom Line: Solar generated 25% of EU electricity during the June-July 2026 heatwaves, the exact conditions that forced France to take 11 GW of nuclear capacity offline because rivers were too hot for cooling. Poland shut down 1.3 GW of coal plants when the Vistula River dried up. EU hydropower dropped to its lowest July output in a decade. Solar ran 17% higher than normal in France and Hungary, overlapping with afternoon air conditioning demand peaks.

The Story: On July 12, France had 29 GW of its 67 GW nuclear fleet unavailable (43% of capacity). At least 11 GW was marked as forced outages or environmental issues: reactors couldn't discharge cooling water into rivers above temperature limits designed to protect aquatic life. The same week, solar generation in France ran 17% above typical June-July levels, producing power during the afternoon hours when air conditioning demand surged. The grid stayed stable.

By the numbers:

• 25% of EU electricity came from solar in June and July 2026, the first months on record hitting that threshold, according to Ember
• 11 GW of French nuclear capacity was offline on July 12 due to forced outages and environmental constraints (river temperatures too high for cooling water discharge)
• 1.3 GW of Polish coal generation shut down when the Vistula River's critically low water levels cut cooling water supply at Kozienice and Połaniec plants
• €900/MWh peak electricity price in Hungary on June 30, and €313/MWh in France on June 24 (highest since the 2022-23 gas crisis), driven by evening demand after solar production declined
• 17% higher solar generation during heatwave days compared to other June-July days in France and Hungary, with 5% increase in Spain

What remains: Evening price spikes to €900/MWh in Hungary and €313/MWh in France expose the infrastructure gap: battery storage to shift daytime solar into evening cooling demand. The generation capacity exists; the storage to move it doesn't.

The Quick Scribbles

California passed Assembly Bill 1738 establishing statewide rights for homeowners to request remote virtual inspections for solar, batteries, and heat pump installations, eliminating delays from in-person inspection scheduling that can add weeks to project timelines.

Trump issued an emergency executive order banning acquisition, importation, transfer, or installation of foreign-produced electrical grid equipment including transformers, inverters, and circuit breakers from designated foreign countries, forcing utilities and solar developers to source critical components domestically despite limited US manufacturing capacity.

Global investment in co-located solar-plus-storage projects hit $25 billion in the first half of 2026 as capital shifted toward hybrid systems amid growing revenue uncertainty, with total renewable energy investment reaching $327.5 billion according to BloombergNEF data.

Fortlev presented Aquafort, a modular HDPE floating solar system for reservoirs, lakes, and dams at Intersolar South America 2026, supporting M10 and M12 modules with dedicated maintenance floats for accessing arrays without boats.

Solarpunk Currents covers the clean energy transition through a solarpunk lens: community power, climate justice, and imaginative futures. Subscribe on Substack or visit solarcurrents.co.