Decommissioning consists of the removal of above- and below-ground facility components, management of excess wastes and materials, and the restoration of native habitat. The exact procedures for decommissioning will depend upon the future use of the project location (e.g., decommissioning for open space habitat will involve returning the land to natural conditions).

(…) The current Project location is primarily used for timber. The project location will be restored to a state similar to its former condition or to a condition required for the future intended land use, should another use be determined.

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

A general overview of what decommissioning includes is provided in most solar project submissions but specifics and details are frequently missing. For example, the “restoration of native habitat” and “returning the land to natural conditions” sound great, but what is meant by “native habitat” and “natural conditions?” It’s important to clarify whether the developer’s intent matches the understanding of county or town government and of residents. In this instance, only two sentences mentioned “restoring habitat” and “natural conditions,” but the submission packet included no vegetation inventory to document the “former condition” of the property. If the project is decommissioned 20 years from now, how will residents or county government be able to legally prove what the property’s “natural conditions” were and compel the developer to restore them?

Potential questions to ask:

  1. Will the “excess wastes and materials” be sent to a landfill within our county or will they go somewhere else?  (This is important to clarify because large solar projects hold quite literally hundreds of thousands of solar panels.)
  2. What is the project developer’s definition of “native habitat” and “natural conditions?”
  3. What is the county’s definition of “native habitat” and “natural conditions?” 
  4. What will the project developer do before the panels are installed to document the kinds of habitat and vegetation that cover this site?
  5. Does the project developer agree to replant the same kinds of vegetation and tree cover and in the same density that existed before any of the land was cleared?
  6. What are the penalties if the solar developer fails to remove the installation within 6 months, as stipulated by the county?

See also: