Bill > HB3228

This bill modifies Texas utility law to establish new requirements for lease agreements involving wind and solar power facilities, focusing on recycling and responsible disposal of facility components. The bill adds a definition of "recycle" as processing an item to recover a usable product and expands definitions of wind and solar power facilities to include more specific components like turbine blades and photovoltaic modules. Critically, the bill mandates that lease agreements must require facility operators (grantees) to: 1) collect and reuse or recycle all practicably recyclable components, including wind turbine blades and solar panels, 2) dispose of non-recyclable components at appropriate facilities authorized by state and federal law (hazardous components at specialized disposal sites and non-hazardous components at municipal solid waste landfills), and 3) obtain financial assurances to cover the estimated costs of facility removal, recycling, and property restoration. The bill applies only to new wind and solar power facility agreements entered into after its effective date (September 1, 2025), ensuring existing agreements remain under previous regulations. These provisions aim to promote environmental responsibility and ensure landowners are protected during and after renewable energy facility operations.

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https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=89R&Bill=HB3228