Decommissioning consists of the removal of above- and below-ground facility components, management of excess wastes and materials, and the restoration of native habitat. (…)

[P]reparatory measures may be required including, but not limited to, (…) as-needed vegetation clearing, fencing and gate repair, and removal and disposal of materials generated from the above-listed activities. (…)

After the facility has been disconnected from the utility power grid and all electrical components have been disconnected within the facility, equipment will be dismantled and removed. (…) All above ground cables will be removed and transported off-site to an approved recycling facility or landfill. Underground cable runs will be cut off and will either remain in place, or be removed and recycled or taken to a landfill. All underground cable left in place will be cut off at a minimum depth of three feet below ground surface. (…)

Should a structure break during excavation, any portion below 3 feet in depth will remain in place with the exception of any concrete foundations. (…)

louisa county, board of supervisors minutes, oct 2016, belcher solar llc, packet pp 152-153

This decommissioning agreement is similar to most others in that it allows the solar developer to leave behind cables and other materials if they are more than 3 feet below the surface (with the exception of concrete foundations). However, earlier in this project’s documentation (packet p. 149), the developer stated that the solar panels are installed on steel racking structures whose posts are “driven 5-6 feet into the ground using a post-driving machine.” In addition, while the removal of materials is delegated to a contractor, no specifications are included about who will supervise and ensure that the removal is completed correctly, with minimal breakage.

Potential questions:

  1. Will the “excess wastes and materials” be sent to a landfill within the county or will they go somewhere else?  Who is responsible for supervising this?
  2. What percentage of materials, in the estimation of experts, will remain in the ground because they are more than 3 feet below the surface?
  3. Who is responsible for supervising the decommissioning to ensure that there is as little breakage as possible and that no materials are left underground? Will this be a local government responsibility or the responsibility of the project owner?
  4. Where are the solar recycling facilities to which the materials will be sent? Are they in Virginia or elsewhere?

See also: