The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1281 proposes a study to assess the need for extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs for discarded solar panels and wind turbine blades in Connecticut. The bill mandates that the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in collaboration with the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, evaluate the recycling and potential reuse of materials, including rare minerals and metals, used in the manufacturing of these renewable energy components. The study will focus on the volume and weight of solar panels and wind turbine blades expected to reach the end of their useful life within the next five years, as well as current collection, disposal, and recycling procedures, costs to municipalities and residents, and the necessary infrastructure for implementing EPR programs.

The bill requires the commissioner to submit a report by February 1, 2026, detailing the findings of the study and any legislative recommendations for establishing EPR programs for solar panels and wind turbine blades. The new legal language introduced in this bill includes the establishment of a study and the requirement for a report, while there are no deletions from current law specified in the text. The overall purpose of the bill is to explore sustainable solutions for managing the lifecycle of renewable energy technologies in the state.