The Oklahoma House of Representatives has moved decisively to shore up protections for landowners with industrial solar facilities in their midst. On Monday, the House passed the Commercial Solar Facility Decommissioning Act, a bill that looks to ensure solar companies can't leave property owners high and dry when it comes to the removal of defunct solar infrastructure.
This legislative push, sponsored by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow, comes amidst a gap in current regulations which lets companies potentially wash their hands of decommissioning responsibilities. According to a release from the Oklahoma House, HB1373 would codify the commitment of solar companies to landowners, firming up the financial groundwork to prevent them from being left with the burden. The bill sailed through the House with a 94-0 unanimous vote.
The act, if passed into law by the Senate, would take effect on November 1. It introduces requirements like financial assurances that match the estimated cost for removing the facilities, and for restoring the land to its pre-installation state, as closely as possible. "This bill would make sure that landowners are not left with the financial and logistical challenges of decommissioning solar facilities," Boles said as per the Oklahoma House of Representatives website.
Detailed plans for the eventual decommissioning of a solar installation are also mandated under the new legislation, ensuring land can be used once again for agriculture post-removal. These provisions place the financial onus squarely on the shoulders of facility operators and disallow contracts that would let operators skip out on these obligations. HB1373 has already garnered unanimous support in committee stages before reaching the full House.
