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House approves 90-day recycling rule for decommissioned solar panels; sponsors say measure prevents stockpiles
Summary
The Maine House voted to advance a bill that requires solar developers to begin recycling or disposing of decommissioned solar panel materials within 90 days, citing environmental risks from long-term storage; supporters and critics clashed over enforcement and market readiness.
The Maine House voted to send a bill addressing decommissioning and waste handling for utility-scale solar projects to the Senate after a floor debate that focused on environmental protection and regulatory enforceability.
Supporters said the bill fills an enforcement gap and prevents Maine from becoming a repository for decommissioned panels. Representative Lemlin said she inspected a new solar farm and was told, "We're just gonna store the panels up in the county," and argued the bill requires developers to recycle or dispose of materials within 90 days.
The bill's sponsor and other…
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