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Committee approves bill requiring decommissioning plans for commercial renewable projects, with private-farm carveout
Summary
House Bill 15 25 would require commercial wind and solar developers to submit agricultural remediation plans for returning land to productive use at end of project life; the committee approved the bill after a trade group voiced support and the sponsor inserted an exemption for private farm owners powering their own property.
Representative Trey Stammel introduced House Bill 15 25, calling it “common sense legislation” to require commercial renewable-energy developers to have plans for remediating agricultural land when projects reach end of life.
Simon Mahan of the Southern Renewable Energy Association told the committee the trade group supports the bill and that many developers already negotiate end-of-life plans with landowners. Mahan raised a concern about “potential double bonding” for decommissioning but otherwise backed the measure.
Representative Stammel said the bill will help return farmland to usable crop or pasture and noted the committee inserted an amendment exempting private farm owners who install solar to power their personal operations from the remediation requirement. "If it is a private farm owner that is putting in a solar field to power their facility, their personal facility, they do not have to enter in this agreement," Stammel said.
A committee member asked whether the remediation requirement would restore soil quality affected by decades of herbicide use. Mahan replied he was not sure and that land currently used for agriculture already employs herbicides and pesticides, and Stammel said the plan’s intent is to ensure soil is returned to usable condition.
Outcome: Committee voted to pass the bill.
Why it matters: As commercial renewables expand across agricultural areas, the bill seeks to ensure decommissioning plans protect the long-term productivity of farmland; industry and the sponsor agreed on an exemption for small private farm installations.
