What Washington’s Solar Takeback Law Signals for the Rest of the U.S.
If you own solar assets in the U.S., chances are you’ve heard some version of this question lately:
“Who pays when these panels come off the ground?”
Washington State is one of the first places to give a clear answer, and what they’ve done is worth paying attention to, even if you don’t operate there. HINT: You’re going to want to plan for your solar decommissioning with an expert team like Decom Solar.
A Quick Look at What Washington Did
Washington passed a law that requires manufacturers of solar panels sold in the state to finance and operate a takeback and recycling program for panels at the end of life. In simple terms:
- Panel makers, not asset owners or landowners, are responsible for recycling
- Approved plans must be in place before panels are sold
- Decommissioned panels must be managed through qualified downstream partners
The program has experienced delays and adjustments, but the direction is clear: end-of-life responsibility is moving upstream.
Why This Matters Outside Washington
Even if you never plan to operate a project in Washington, this law is an early signal of where policy is headed nationally.
Other states are watching closely because solar waste is no longer theoretical. The first major wave of utility-scale solar built in the early 2010s is approaching repowering or retirement. Legislators are starting to ask:
- What happens to millions of panels?
- Who ensures they’re handled responsibly?
- Who pays when recycling costs exceed scrap value?
Washington’s answer is extended producer responsibility (EPR). This, of course, is familiar in electronics, paint, and batteries. Solar is simply next in line.
What Asset Owners Should Take Away Now
You don’t need to panic, but you do need to plan.
At Decom Solar, the only thing we love more than helping asset owners who haven’t planned and need help fast are asset owners who connect with us to plan for an optimal end-of-life solar decommissioning strategy well ahead of time.
Here are three practical implications for asset owners:
1. Decommissioning costs are becoming less predictable.
If more states adopt EPR-style rules, the cost structure of decommissioning could change quickly. Some costs may shift to manufacturers; others may come with stricter documentation, transport, and compliance requirements.
2. Contracts written years ago may not reflect today’s reality.
Many early agreements, leases, and decommissioning plans assumed landfill disposal as a fallback. That assumption is becoming risky. Owners should review:
- Decommissioning obligations
- Financial assurance language
- End-of-life definitions tied to “waste” vs. “product”
3. Documentation will matter as much as removal.
Future regulations are likely to care how panels are managed, not just that they are removed. Chain of custody, proof of recycling, and approved downstream vendors will increasingly be part of a “clean” project closeout.
The Bigger Picture
Washington didn’t pass this law to make solar harder. They passed it to prevent a future problem. Luckily for us, Washington shares our dream where clean energy doesn’t create a messy waste legacy.
For asset owners, the lesson is straightforward:
Solar decommissioning is no longer just a construction consideration.
It’s a regulatory and financial one.
The owners who stay ahead of this shift, by understanding state trends, updating plans, and working with experienced decommissioning partners like Decom Solar, will have more options, lower risk, and fewer surprises when it’s time to take assets offline.
And if Washington is any indication, the question isn’t if other states follow, it’s when.
