This bill establishes new requirements for the decommissioning of commercial wind and solar energy facilities in Kansas. Before the construction of such facilities, the county's board of commissioners must require the facility owner to enter into a decommissioning agreement that outlines a comprehensive decommissioning plan. This plan must be prepared by an independent, licensed engineer and include a financial assurance estimate to cover decommissioning costs, which must be updated every five years. The facility owner is responsible for providing this financial assurance in a form acceptable to the county, ensuring that funds are accessible for decommissioning if necessary.
Additionally, the bill stipulates that if a facility owner cannot complete decommissioning or is no longer in business, the county may take on the decommissioning responsibilities and assess the costs against affected landowners. The decommissioning agreement must also include provisions for penalties and remedies in case of noncompliance by the facility owner, allowing the county to recover litigation costs if it needs to enforce the agreement. The definitions of "commercial solar energy facility" and "commercial wind energy facility" are also clarified within the bill.