It is the first episode of Unplugged Weekly, our new weekly DIY solar news format. Eric, Rodney and Adam break down the week in DIY solar: the news, the sunshine report board, and Q&A pulled straight from the live chat.
The big story: a federal judge has restored the $7 billion Solar for All program after the EPA terminated it in August 2025. Two court rulings put the money back in play in September. Adam walks through what the program funds, and how to search your state name plus "solar for all" to find the grants and see who qualifies. Then New Jersey legalized plug-in balcony solar: up to 1,200 W per home, UL 3700 certified gear, no utility approval, no city permit, and landlords and HOAs cannot ban it. It takes effect March 1, 2027.
Also this week: Pila Energy launched its plug-in mesh home battery at NY Climate Week (it powers out of a standard 120V outlet, and the crew digs into whether mesh anything here is real or a buzzword), UL launched a certification program for vehicle to grid so your EV can double as an 80 to 100 kWh home battery, and Goal Zero recalled 46,200 Yeti 3000X power stations because the circuit board can overheat (the fix is free firmware at recallsupport.goalzero.com). Plus hurricane season prep: test your backup power now, and how to size an inverter generator around the 75 percent sweet spot.
Q&A covers rapid shutdown on a detached pergola, the AI agents Eric runs behind the scenes (Hermes, Ollama Cloud, Codex), Tigo CCA with the EG4 12000XP, where to buy panels in the southeast, and the RE+ Vegas meetup taking shape with a form coming on the website.
Topics in this episode:
- The first Unplugged Weekly news format episode
- Solar for All is back: a federal judge restored the $7B program
- How to find Solar for All grants in your state and who qualifies
- New Jersey balcony solar goes legal: 1,200 W, UL 3700, no permit, HOAs cannot ban it
- Pila Energy plug-in mesh home battery: real or buzzword?
- UL vehicle-to-grid certification: your EV as an 80 to 100 kWh home battery
- Goal Zero Yeti 3000X recall of 46,200 units and the free firmware fix
- Hurricane season prep: test your backup power before the storm
- Generator sizing around the 75 percent inverter sweet spot
- Rapid shutdown on a detached pergola
- The AI agents Eric runs: Hermes, Ollama Cloud, Codex
- Tigo CCA with the EG4 12000XP
- Where to buy panels in the southeast
- RE+ Vegas meetup taking shape (form coming on the website)
- Sunshine report: 174 kWh channel high from SurgeonTech in cloudy Arizona, 37 reporters on screen, Eric closed with 6.3 kWh in Texas
Links and resources:
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Safety note: DIY solar, batteries, transfer switches, generator interlocks, and backup-power wiring can involve dangerous voltages, fire risk, fuel and CO risk, and code requirements. Consult qualified professionals and follow local code. Never run a generator indoors, in a garage, or near windows.
