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House Environmental Committee Moves Solar Energy Facility Decommissioning Best Practices; Food Processing Waste Bills

On October 1, the House Environmental Resources and Energy Committee reported out legislation codifying decommissioning best practices for utility-scale solar energy facilities and two bills regulating the land application of food processing waste on farms.

The Committee postponed action on House Bill 2277 (Otten-D-Chester), the PA Reliable Energy Sustainability Standard (PRESS) is the Governor’s Energy Plan that would diversify energy generation, improve grid reliability, lower consumer costs by avoiding energy price spikes and create energy-related jobs.

Solar Decommissioning

Senate Bill 211 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) would set decommissioning standards for utility-scale solar energy facilities that reflect current best practices of the solar industry in Pennsylvania.

The bill is far different from the legislation Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming) introduced in 2021-- Senate Bill 284-- when this concept was first discussed.

As a result, Senate Bill 211 is now supported by the solar energy industry working in the state.

Requiring bonding and a decommissioning plan for when solar energy facilities reach the end of their useful life is a unique approach to electric generation facilities.

Coal and natural gas-fired power plants that represent 91% of Pennsylvania’s electric generation capacity have nothing remotely like these requirements. As a result, when they reach the end of their usefulness, communities are left with the considerable challenge of what to do with them.

Nuclear power plants do have decommissioning requirements and have to set aside funds when they are operating for decontamination and decommissioning.

Food Processing Waste

The Committee approved amendments to both the food processing waste bills--

-- House Bill 2393 (Friel-D-Chester) setting standards for the storage or land application of food processing residual waste on farms. An amendment is expected.

-- House Bill 2594 (Friel-D-Chester) providing for the certification of food processing residual waste haulers and brokers.

The legislation approved by the Committee was reported to the full House and Tabled.

Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware) serves as Majority Chair of the House Environmental Committee and can be contacted by calling 717-787-7647 or sending email to: gvitali@pahouse.net. Rep. Martin Causer (R-Cameron) serves as Minority Chair and can be contacted by calling 717-787-5075 or by sending email to: mcauser@pahousegop.com.

(Photo: Penn State University Franklin County solar energy facility.)

Resource Link:

-- House Committee Meets Oct. 1 To Consider Bill To Diversify Energy Generation, Improve Grid Reliability, Lower Consumer Energy Costs [PaEN]

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