Bill > HB31

This bill revises regulations for wind and solar facility decommissioning by modifying bonding requirements and establishing new provisions for facility owners. The bill requires facility owners to notify the department within 12 months of commencing commercial operation, submit a detailed decommissioning plan, and provide an abstract of land leasing agreements. It introduces more specific timelines for submitting decommissioning bonds based on when the facility began operations, with most facilities required to submit bonds between the 12th and 15th years of operation. The bill also establishes a new decommissioning lien mechanism that allows the department to file a lien on facility assets if a bond is not submitted or if the facility is abandoned, with the ability to foreclose on the lien and take necessary decommissioning actions if the owner fails to address deficiencies within 90 days. Additionally, the bill creates a wind and solar decommissioning account to collect penalties, proceeds from asset sales, and interest income, which can be used by the department to implement decommissioning requirements. The legislation aims to ensure that wind and solar facilities have adequate financial provisions for eventual site restoration and removal, with flexible provisions for facility repurposing and ownership transfers.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation and Infrastructure

https://bills.legmt.gov/#/laws/bill/20251/LC0546