A Survey of Federal and State-Level Solar System Decommissioning Policies in the United States
![](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/6491ef44b4fda6610e99d5a0/6644e3371013c2f2277ce50f_nrel.webp)
About this
Report
This article discusses the cumulative installed utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity in the United States, which reached over 60 GWdc by the end of 2020 and is projected to quadruple to 240 GWdc by 2030 due to federal and state renewable energy and net-zero emissions policies. However, it also highlights the growing importance of solar decommissioning policies. As of April 2021, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and 15 U.S. states have implemented such policies. These policies require compliance with regulatory requirements throughout a project's lifetime, including decommissioning, and often involve submitting decommissioning plans, estimating decommissioning costs, and providing financial assurance. The report details the variations in these policies across different jurisdictions and how they can impact solar project development, construction timelines, and costs.