Decommissioned Solar Facilities Eyed

Article reposted with permission from The News Service of Florida.

A Senate Republican on Wednesday filed a bill (SB 200) that would allow counties to pass ordinances about the decommissioning of solar-energy facilities after the end of the facilities’ “useful life.” The issue of what will happen with solar facilities in the future has drawn discussion as utilities have built sprawling solar farms in rural areas. The bill, filed by Sen. Jennifer Bradley, R-Fleming Island, says that decommissioning would involve removing solar facilities and returning agricultural land to a “useful condition similar to that which existed before construction of the solar facility.” The bill, filed for the legislative session that will start in January, also would allow counties to require such things as bonds to help ensure that the future costs of decommissioning would be covered.