Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro passed a bill yesterday that would require decommissioning plans for solar projects of 2 MWAC and larger in the state. Senate Bill 349 was created and sponsored by Republican Senatorsbut received bipartisan support as he worked through the state legislative chambers.
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“This is a bipartisan victory for energy affordability, economic strength and supporting Pennsylvania landowners. Senate Bill 349 provides clear expectations for developers and landowners while ensuring developers are accountable for meeting state requirements. The solar and storage industry applauds Governor Shapiro, Senator Yaw (R-23) and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle for delivering this common-sense solution for Pennsylvania,” said Tim Pawlenty, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
SB 349 requires decommissioning plans in lease agreements between landowners and the owner of a solar project. Project owners must submit a decommissioning plan within 30 days of starting construction. The decommissioning plan must be updated every five years of operation. Inactive solar projects must be decommissioned within 18 months of cessation of operations unless actively restarted.
If no decommissioning plan is submitted, the person initiating the project must pay the landowner the estimated costs of dismantling the array. That value would be routinely updated by third-party technicians.
SB 349 requires the total removal of the solar project – excluding utility-owned equipment – and the access roads constructed for the array, and that the land be restored to conditions similar to those before construction, such as replacing topsoil. The bill also maintains compliance with the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which means solar projects cannot use components manufactured using forced labor.
Shapiro signed 24 bills into law yesterday, including SB 349.
“Even with one of the few divided legislatures in the country, we are still showing that we can come together to get things done for Pennsylvanians,” Shapiro said in a news release.
