The solar industry’s meteoric rise over the past decade can be linked, in part, to falling equipment prices and cheap, available land, often in rural places.
Solar development often has benefited rural places with clean energy, jobs, and tax revenue.
But those towns and villages also must prepare for the end of a solar farm’s productive life, anywhere from 25-30 years after commissioning.
The Center for Rural Affairs (CFRA) argues a well-rounded decommissioning plan between developers and local governments can ensure that solar’s presence in those communities remains positive.
