Energy Panel Advances Bill to Recycle Wind and Solar Waste

Wind Turbines and Solar Panels

The growing prominence of renewable energy in the United States has led to discussions about managing its environmental impact after the energy-producing life cycle of wind turbines and solar panels ends. Recently, this issue took center stage in the Minnesota House Energy Finance and Policy Committee, which moved forward with HF1040, a bill aimed at creating a recycling program for wind and solar waste. The bill, introduced by Rep. Peggy Scott (R-Andover), seeks to establish a product stewardship program to handle the disposal and recycling of used renewable energy infrastructure.

Recycling Wind and Solar Waste: A Necessary Step

HF1040 proposes a solution to a question that has emerged during recent legislative sessions: What happens to wind blades, turbines, and solar panels once they are no longer operational? The bill would require producers of solar panels and wind turbines to implement a recycling program that ensures proper disposal of these materials. According to the bill, retailers in Minnesota will only be able to sell wind and solar infrastructure if the producer is enrolled in a stewardship plan approved by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA).

According to Rep. Scott, she introduced this bill 11 years ago after recognizing the growth of green energy infrastructure across the country. “I’m from Iowa originally, and when I drive down I-35 to visit friends and family, somewhere after Clear Lake, there’s a big old pile of wind blades. And it’s been there for a long, long time,” said Scott. “Now I recently read that the state of Iowa is suing to have those wind blades removed, and it’s become quite an ordeal. I don’t want that happening in our state.” Scott said that the bill is modeled after Minnesota’s successful paint stewardship program, which allows residents to drop off unwanted paint for recycling, as well as the state's electronics recycling program.

Key Components of the Stewardship Program

Under the proposed legislation, the stewardship program would require that producers of wind and solar infrastructure contribute an annual fee to help cover the costs of recycling and program administration. The bill also prohibits the disposal of wind and solar materials in municipal solid waste or landfills. Producers could either submit individual stewardship plans or form a collective stewardship organization with other producers. The MPCA would oversee the implementation of these plans.

In 2023, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency conducted a study on how to address wind and solar waste, and the findings were released this week. Many of the study’s recommendations align with those in HF1040, particularly in the area of solar waste recycling.

Bipartisan Support and Challenges in Recycling

HF1040 has garnered praise from both sides of the aisle. Rep. Spencer Igo (R-Wabana Township) expressed his support for the bill, particularly its provision prohibiting the placement of wind and solar waste in landfills. Rep. Larry Kraft (DFL-St. Louis Park) offered to assist in incorporating more of the MPCA’s report into the bill as it evolves, a suggestion Rep. Scott welcomed.

Despite the bill’s strong support, Rep. Athena Hollins (DFL-St. Paul) pointed out the practical challenges of recycling solar panels, noting that disassembling panels to recover valuable materials such as copper and minerals is a complex and difficult task. However, she emphasized that the difficulty of the task should not deter efforts to make solar recycling more efficient and widespread.

Next Steps

The committee unanimously approved the bill and referred it to the House Environment and Natural Resources Finance and Policy Committee. If passed, HF1040 could serve as a critical step in ensuring that the state of Minnesota—and potentially the nation—develops a sustainable approach to the end-of-life disposal of renewable energy infrastructure.