The US state of Pennsylvania has enacted Senate Bill 349, establishing clear requirements for the decommissioning of solar energy facilities at the end of their operational life. Signed into law by Governor Josh Shapiro, the legislation requires solar project developers to submit a decommissioning plan and provide proof of financial assurance at least 30 days before construction begins. The decommissioning plan must also be updated as required over the life of the project. 
The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) President and CEO Tim Pawlenty called it a bipartisan win for energy affordability, economic strength, and supporting landowners in the state. “Senate Bill 349 provides clear expectations for developers and landowners while ensuring developers are responsible for meeting state requirements,” added Pawlenty. 
Silfab Solar’s planned solar cell and module manufacturing plant in Fort Mill, South Carolina, has suffered a setback after a US court ruled the project’s current location unlawful. According to local media reports, Circuit Court Judge William A. McKinnon affirmed the decision of the York County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) that ruled against solar panel manufacturing in the Light Industrial (LI) district. The BZA decision followed a petition by a local property owner, Walter Buchanan, seeking an interpretation of the Zoning Code. The Circuit Court has denied the appellants’ petition for appeal. Silfab Solar had announced plans to use the Fort Mill fab to produce 1 GW of n-type solar cell capacity along with a 1.3 GW solar module factory. In November 2024, it secured $100 million for the project (see Silfab Solar Lands $100 Million For US Solar Cell Manufacturing Plant). 
US-based Strata Clean Energy has increased its revolving loan and letter of credit facility by $150 million, taking the total facility size from $300 million to $450 million. The expanded facility closed on July 9, 2026. The solar PV and energy storage infrastructure company said this facility will support its growing portfolio of renewable energy and energy storage projects, as well as its EPC and O&M businesses. The facility continues to be led by Nomura as Sole Bookrunner and Coordinating Lead Arranger, with First Citizens Bank joining as Coordinating Lead Arranger. Strata Chief Financial Officer Alex Wilhelm said the additional liquidity will provide greater flexibility to invest in the company’s development pipeline and support business expansion. 
US utility Xcel Energy has completed Phase 3 of the Sherco Solar project in Becker, Minnesota, bringing the site’s total installed solar capacity to 710 MW across 1.7 million solar panels. Built near the retiring Sherco coal plant, the project is now the largest solar facility in Minnesota, according to the company, and among the largest in the Upper Midwest. It has proposed a fourth phase that would increase the project’s capacity to 910 MW by 2029. Xcel said the expansion is expected to create around 300 union construction jobs and generate approximately $90 million in local economic benefits. Xcel Energy added that the project supports its strategy to replace retiring coal generation with renewable energy while using existing infrastructure and maintaining grid reliability. 
TaiyangNews 2024

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