Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Solar Cleanup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County hears update on solar plant fire; cleanup, testing and contractor plans set for late September
Summary
County staff reported the solar (UV) plant construction is essentially complete and centrifugally in commissioning, but a fire among staged panels/pallets prompted a targeted cleanup with Clean Harbors and another contractor; soil and panel testing is under way and disposal decisions will follow lab results.
County staff and the plant’s on‑site team updated commissioners on construction and a recent staging‑area fire at the solar (referred to as the UV plant). Staff said construction is mostly complete, commissioning and energization testing are under way, and Tri‑State Energy is coordinating the connection. The site had about 40–60 people on site during final punch‑list work.
Commissioners and county environmental health staff raised concerns about potential contaminants from burned panels. The environmental health representative identified herself as the county’s environmental health person and asked whether any panel types on site contained materials of particular concern — specifically raising cadmium telluride as a possible contaminant in some older modules.
Presenters said the modules at the site are not the cadmium telluride type in their experience and noted that sample collection and laboratory testing are in progress. Contractors under consideration for cleanup included Clean Harbors and a contractor identified as Solar Cycle; staff said the week of the 29th was targeted for cleanup with an expected roughly two‑week on‑site remediation window contingent on testing.
County staff described follow‑up procedures: additional soil sampling as requested by QA/QC, second‑round sampling underway, and disposal or recycling decisions to be made once results arrive. The board requested the testing summary be shared with county public health and then with the public. The presenting team agreed to provide a testing report and a summary from the independent testing agency when available.
Commissioners publicly thanked county crews and others (named in the meeting as John and his team) for their emergency assistance and for cutting fire lines and supporting fire mitigation work around the site.
The county emphasized transparency in communicating test results and disposal plans to answer community concerns about drainage, off‑site runoff, and the destination of removed material.
