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.”
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.
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.