The Attorney General of Texas has filed a lawsuit against Global Fiberglass Solutions, Inc. and associated parties alleging that GFSI was “purportedly hired by numerous companies to break down, transport, and recycle turbine blades,” and that the company failed to properly dispose of the materials, instead creating a stockpile of more than 3,000 wind turbine blades and blade components at unpermitted sites in Sweetwater, Texas. The State asserts that these sites violate Texas solid waste disposal laws and related administrative requirements.
Members of the Advanced Power Alliance (APA) are well aware of the ongoing issues related to Global Fiberglass Solutions, Inc. and the storage of wind turbine blades and blade materials in Sweetwater. APA members who contracted for blade disposal or recycling services have been frustrated that those services were not delivered as represented. In an effort to address this situation, APA has visited the site, monitored developments including litigation among the parties involved, communicated with affected member companies, and worked with policymakers to pursue solutions designed to prevent similar circumstances in the future.
The advanced power industries we represent are fully committed to protecting the environment and complying with all applicable state and federal laws. APA has consistently supported the development of effective policies addressing end-of-life management for energy infrastructure and equipment, including proactive legislative efforts to ensure that no energy operator or service provider can negatively impact the environment.
In Texas, those efforts included two important pieces of legislation, both of which were passed during the 2025 legislative session and have now become law. Both establish stronger accountability standards for recyclers and energy companies:
- House Bill 3228 (Lambert) – Requires the costs of component disposal and recycling to be included in the financial assurance required under wind and solar leases.
- House Bill 3229 (Lambert) – Requires recyclers of renewable energy components to file annual reports with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and to post financial assurance sufficient to cover recycling or disposal costs.
APA appreciates the leadership of Representative Stan Lambert and Senator Charles Perry in carrying this legislation, as well as the leadership of the Texas House, Senate, and Governor Abbott in enacting these reforms. These measures were specifically designed to prevent situations like this from occurring in the future. APA has also drafted and supported the passage of similar recycler accountability standards in Oklahoma.
We commend states that take action to enforce existing laws and to hold companies accountable when they are alleged to have failed to meet legal requirements or contractual expectations. Protecting the natural beauty of our states and ensuring responsible end-of-life management for energy infrastructure must remain a top priority for all energy producers.
APA will continue to monitor this situation closely and remain engaged in advancing effective decommissioning and end-of-life strategies for energy projects across the country. Responsible energy development includes responsible end-of-life management, and our industries remain committed to doing both the right way.