In most states, solar companies are required to provide an end-to-end plan for solar power installations.
In an article for Inside Climate News, Dan Gearino describes a new report from NC Clean Energy Technology Center, “50 States of Solar Decommissioning,” which reviews state and local laws regarding how solar installations are managed after they are no longer in service.
According to the report, solar farms are generally built to last roughly 30 years. “Decommissioning a solar farm involves removing the panels, racks, wires and other equipment and taking actions to restore the ground to its previous state. The company doing the removal will sell much of the scrap to recyclers.” Land can usually be returned to agricultural or other uses. “In most places, developers must submit a plan for removal of the projects and take steps to guarantee that local communities will have minimal, if any, costs.”
Gearino adds, “As of the end of 2023, 20 states (including Texas) had statewide policies, and nine states (including California) had a hybrid of state and local rules” that regulate how solar farms are decommissioned.
FULL STORY: Who Pays for Cleanup When a Solar Project Reaches the End of Its Life?
Study: Midwest Property Values Unaffected by Nearby Solar Farms
Despite concerns that solar projects could lower property values, new research finds they actually rose slightly in areas near utility-scale solar installations.
New Jersey Agrivoltaic Project Combines Solar Energy With Farming
A Rutgers University-New Brunswick demonstration farm will evaluate solar array designs to understand how they can best support grazing and agriculture on the same site.
Local Opposition Threatens to Cripple Solar Expansion
A bevy of real and unfounded claims against solar farms is feeding a growing opposition movement in rural areas.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
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Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
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