First Nation Takes National Lead with Plug-In Solar Deployment

A historic milestone in renewable energy deployment has been reached in the United States, and it all started with the vision and leadership of Chief Henry Red Cloud at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCR) in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. In a bold step toward energy sovereignty and self-sufficiency, RCR became the first in the nation to successfully gain official utility approval for a plug-in photovoltaic (PV) system — setting a precedent that could transform distributed solar adoption across the country.

Oglala Lakota Chief Henry Red Cloud 

Breaking barriers: Plug-in solar as a civil right

Last year, North American Clean Energy Magazine published two editorials covering the rapid growth of plug-in solar deployment in Europe, particularly in Germany, where legally interconnected "Balcony Solar" systems quadrupled in sales during 2023​. By October 16, 2024, Germany had formally passed a law in favor of plug-in solar rights, making it legal for residents to connect small solar generators to household circuits without prior utility permission.

While innovation and grassroots adoption of plug-in PV have flourished under the radar without formal approval in various corners of the U.S., utility-approved, National Electrical Code (NEC)-compliant grid interconnections for plug-in solar remained elusive — until now.

A landmark approval at Pine Ridge

The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center, a beacon of sustainability and Indigenous-led climate action, filed an interconnection application in October 2024 with its local rural electric cooperative. The result? A groundbreaking approval for a 4.86 kW (DC) portable, bidirectional “Plug-In” PV carport equipped with an integrated electric vehicle (EV) charger.

This approval is far more than just a bureaucratic checkbox — it represents a seismic shift in the way plug-in solar can integrate with the existing grid. Unlike traditional fixed-mount solar systems (which often require months of permitting, complex approvals, and expensive electrical modifications), the plug-in PV model offers a scalable, accessible solution that bypasses many regulatory hurdles​.

Building a nationwide movement

RCR’s approval was not an isolated event. Just weeks prior, an identical 4.86 kW portable carport system was deployed at a private residence in Las Vegas, Nevada. However, the governing utility subjected it to a more traditional, protracted approval process, including a full plan review and a physical safety inspection. Ultimately, the system received Permission to Operate (PTO) in December 2024, and was successfully enrolled in the utility’s net metering program, setting another important precedent.

Simultaneously, a third identical system was installed at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Palo Alto, California, where a research team completed an extensive grid impact analysis. Their findings validated earlier studies conducted at North Carolina State University (NCSU), which demonstrated that widespread adoption of plug-in solar does not destabilize the grid but instead enhances its resilience​, while lowering CO2 emissions through expanding on-site renewable electricity generation.

Implications for energy equity and sovereignty

For communities with moderate income, the implications of this technology go far beyond convenience. Across the U.S., families and businesses experience high energy costs and low rates of electrification. The ability to deploy powerful solar generators without requiring site-specific construction permits represents a paradigm shift for energy independence.

The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center’s successful deployment positions it as a leader in demonstrating how plug-in solar can serve as a tool for economic empowerment, climate resilience, and grid modernization.

Scaling plug-in solar across America

The breakthrough at the Oglala Lakota Reservation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota is only the beginning. As more utilities witness the safety, feasibility, and economic benefits of plug-in solar, barriers to adoption will continue to fall. Already, efforts are underway to establish national plug-in PV standards through the Department of Energy (DOE), ensuring that these systems can be widely deployed without unnecessary regulatory friction​.

If the United States follows Europe's lead in making plug-in solar a universal right, the implications will be profound. Tens of millions of renters, low-income households, and small businesses — typically excluded from the rooftop solar market — will gain the ability to generate their own renewable electricity.

The Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center has lit the path forward. Now it’s up to communities, policymakers, and innovators across the nation to accelerate the plug-in solar revolution, one balcony and one driveway at a time.

People often tout "economies of scale," but whose economy does it truly benefit, and at what scale? Even community solar offers modest discounts on electric bills, leaving subscribers with no ownership stake. In contrast, the plug-in generation model transforms the dynamic, empowering those community's individuals to become “prosumers” by owning a tangible energy-generating asset with a strong ROI.

Europe has already taken this step. In Germany and the UK, plug-and-play solar systems are thriving, giving people the ability to produce their own power safely, sell surplus energy to the grid, and cut their bills. These systems operate with automatic shut-offs, and comply with rigorous safety standards. Meanwhile, in the U.S., we are stuck spinning our wheels. Outdated codes and standards, coupled with an unwillingness to adapt, have left us far behind.

The regulatory stagnation isn’t accidental. It’s part of a broader agenda to stifle distributed energy generation. While Justice40 initiatives and DEI programs have come under attack, let’s talk about what’s really being silenced: the opportunity for everyday people to generate wealth through energy independence.

Here’s how we fight back: Start showing up. Attend your local code and standards meetings. Write to UL. Contact your local Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJs). Demand the right to generate your own electricity.

This isn’t just about saving the planet — it’s about your wallet. Distributed generation isn’t a privilege for the wealthy; it’s a necessity. Plug-in solar technology proves this by eliminating costly permitting barriers. Both mobile and adaptable, it puts energy generation in the hands of the people who need it most.

The truth is the system thrives on our silence. While major corporations profit off fossil fuels and centralized energy generation, we’re being sold the idea that renewable energy is unattainable. It’s not. The technology exists; the barriers are regulatory, not technical.

This isn’t just a call to action; it’s a wake-up call. Energy independence is power, literally and figuratively. If deregulation is good enough for the fossil fuel industry, it’s good enough for individual households to plug in a solar panel, generate their own electricity, and send surplus power back to the grid.

Let’s stop letting outdated systems and biased policies hold us back. The energy revolution is already here. Now it’s up to us to fight for our right to participate in it.

Erika and Achim Ginsberg-Klemmt are VP of Operations and VP of Engineering, respectively, at Gismo Power, which specializes in the development of grid-tied and off-grid portable solar energy solutions for real people.

Gismo Power | gismopower.com