Interim Charge: Ensuring Responsible Renewable Energy Decommissioning
The Texas Senate Committee on Natural Resources met on September 21, 2026, to hear testimony on interim charges, including Ensuring Responsible Renewable Energy Decommissioning.
As a witness, APA Texas Vice President Judd Messer emphasized that energy companies should be responsible for the costs of decommissioning their projects, removing equipment, restoring land, and properly recycling or disposing of components at the end of their useful lives. He highlighted legislation passed in 2025 that expanded decommissioning requirements by adding recycling and disposal costs for wind and solar projects, establishing similar requirements for battery-storage facilities, and requiring renewable-component recyclers to maintain financial assurance for unrecycled materials.
“Regardless of technology or resource, we believe that the company that builds and operates a project should ultimately be responsible for the cost of removing its equipment, restoring the property, and managing the proper disposition of components at the end of their useful life,” said Messer.
A written copy of Messer’s testimony can be found here, and video of the testimony can be viewed below.
“Texas leads the nation in these forms of energy and has also led the nation in environmental stewardship to mitigate potential future impacts as they reach the end of their useful lives. The state has done so by identifying these issues early, studying them carefully, and enacting market-oriented solutions to mitigate their impacts,” concluded Messer.
APA remains committed to working proactively with Texas lawmakers to strengthen responsible end-of-life standards for energy projects while protecting landowners, communities, and taxpayers.