Trenton – Legislation sponsored by Senate Environmental and Energy Committee Chairman Senator Bob Smith and Vice Chairwoman Senator Linda R. Greenstein, which will require the owners of solar and photovoltaic energy generation facilities and structures to remove and recycle the facility, structures and any related equipment or infrastructure after the termination of their use, was signed into law today by Governor Phil Murphy.
“New Jersey has embraced solar energy for the past 20 years, so much so that we are one of the top producers of solar energy in the country,” said Senator Smith (D-Middlesex/Somerset). “This shows our commitment to clean alternative energy sources. But solar panels have a shelf life of only about 30 years, so soon some of that equipment is going to have to be retired and replaced. This law ensures that when that happens, the solar energy equipment is recycled or disposed of in a proper way.”
“Solar energy is a future-forward source of energy,” said Senator Greenstein (D-Mercer/Middlesex). “New Jersey’s embrace of solar energy shows that our residents want to live in a state that produces clean energy – now and in the future. This plan gives us a path for recycling the old equipment and repurposes it for the future.”
The new law will require the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt regulations to establish standards for the required removal and recycling of solar energy equipment. Violators will be subject to a civil penalty up to $1,000.