Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • Monthly Snapshots
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • 2021 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
  • Leadership
    • Vote for the 2022 Leaders!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners

Washington State to create task force to study solar panel recycling guidelines

By Kelly Pickerel | March 12, 2020

Share

04/02/2020 update: Governor Inslee signed HB 2645, but vetoed part of it. In his veto message, Inslee wrote:

“Section 2 of the bill requires the Washington State University extension energy program to convene a work group of stakeholders and submit a report to the Legislature on methodologies for the management of the end-of-life photovoltaic modules. This section was made subject to an appropriation. Although recycling of photovoltaic modules is a worthwhile goal, the report on methodologies for the management of the end-of-life photovoltaic modules can be delayed in light of the rapidly changing budget outlook due to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

This week the Washington State House and Senate passed a bill that will update the state’s solar recycling policy. This bill will inform the final design and adoption of a comprehensive solar recycling program that is data-driven and considers the lifespan of modules that can last up to 50 years in the field.

“This week HB 2645 passed with strong bipartisan support in the Washington state House and Senate, and no stakeholder opposition. HB 2645 will require the state to create a task force that will thoroughly study solar end-of-life issues and use this information to suggest revisions to the state’s existing program to ensure its long-term success,” said Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at SEIA. “This task force will feature a comprehensive set of stakeholders, including industry representatives, to make sure the recommendations remain relevant and reasonable for solar businesses and customers in Washington.

“We thank the leaders in the Washington House and Senate and look forward to seeing Governor Inslee sign this bill into law.”

You may also like:


  • How to decommission a solar array, and why it’s important…

  • Old solar panels get second life in repurposing and recycling…

  • It’s time to plan for solar panel recycling in the…

About The Author

Kelly Pickerel

Kelly Pickerel has over a decade of experience reporting on the U.S. solar industry and is currently editor in chief of Solar Power World.

Comments

  1. Solarman says

    March 14, 2020 at 6:35 pm

    Copied from committee materials March 2, : “Directs the Washington State University Energy Program to convene a PV Module Recovery, Reuse, and Recycling Work Group and submit a report to the Legislature and Governor by December 1, 2021, on potential methodologies for the management of end-of-life PV modules.”

    Submitting a “report” is not a plan of action. This should have been a part of the “plan” early on and at least by now the “report” could have been part of the process in determining this “bills” scope and reach into the recycling of the solar PV “products”. I’m just sayin’, this process has wasted time and money so far, as such is not even a viable “program” for recycling “anything”. Lip service is not a treatise to action nor a serviceable plan.

    Reply
  2. Chris Davis says

    March 12, 2020 at 10:38 am

    I’m really hoping we can get this right. There’s a lot of eyes on this bill right now, and it’s not unreasonable to think it’ll be replicated in other states.

    Reply

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

Related Articles Read More >

Ingeteam unveils 7.65-MW inverter power station on skid
CPS America opens new U.S. headquarters near Dallas, Texas
Even with Biden’s two-year tariff pause, WoodMac still expects solar markets to be down this year and next
DOE study finds energy sector employment is outpacing overall U.S. numbers

SPW Digital Editions

Solar Power World Digital EditionBrowse the current issue and archived issues of Solar Power World in an easy-to-use, high-quality format. Bookmark, share and interact with the leading solar construction magazine today.

Contractor's Corner Podcast

June 27, 2022
Contractor's Corner: Got Electric
See More >

Solar Policy Snapshot

Solar policy differs across state lines and regions. Click to see our monthly roundup of recent legislation and research throughout the country.

Read More >

Solar Power World
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Solar Articles
  • Windpower Engineering & Development
  • Battery Power Tips
  • Top Products
  • Leadership
  • About/Contact Us
  • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • WTWH Media

Copyright © 2022 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Solar Power World

  • Home
  • Top Solar Contractors
  • Articles
    • Most Recent Posts
    • News
      • Latest News Items
      • Solar tariffs
    • Featured
      • Latest Feature Stories
      • Contractor’s Corner
      • Trends in Solar
      • The Solar Explorer
  • Policy
    • Monthly Snapshots
  • Markets
    • Residential
    • Commercial
    • Community Solar
    • Utility
  • Products
    • 2021 Top Products
    • Batteries and Storage
    • Inverters
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
    • Racking and Mounting
    • Software
    • Solar Panels
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
      • Global Manufacturing Locations
  • Subscribe
  • Resources
    • About SPW
    • Digital Issues
    • Event Coverage
    • Podcasts
    • Product Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Inverter Manufacturing Locations
      • Global Solar Panel Manufacturing Locations
      • U.S. solar panel manufacturers
    • Solar Classrooms
    • Suppliers
    • Videos
    • Webinars / Digital Events
    • Whitepapers
  • Leadership
    • Vote for the 2022 Leaders!
    • 2021 Winners
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2018 Winners