Washington State to implement Photovoltaic Module recycling requirement. What are the implications?

[MTM98290]

This bill recently passed and was signed by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. It requires recycling and tracking of pv modules. The requirements are for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, installers etc. The text seems to say that if a manufacturer isn't compliant they can be fined $10,000 per module.

Is this the end of off brand small pv modules in Washington?

Or is this the beginning of massive price increases?

Or are we about to have a local Santan Solar up here?

What do you make of this bill?

 

[Skypower]

I see some distributing and sellers black listing any sales in that area. Just isn’t worth the hassle. Unless they don’t plan on being in business much longer. Like some things I try to order in California “Not available in your zip code”.

 

[MTM98290]

I see some distributing and sellers black listing any sales in that area. Just isn’t worth the hassle. Unless they don’t plan on being in business much longer. Like some things I try to order in California “Not available in your zip code”.

Yes we already can't buy R-134a anymore. Along with many other things. I think I should be ordering a pallet of panels soon.

 

[Brett V]

As with all government mandates, the cost will ultimately be born by the consumer.

 

[MTM98290]

As with all government mandates, the cost will ultimately be born by the consumer.

We the consumers already pay at least a dollar more per gallon for fuel because of our "clean fuel standard" that was put on the big bad fuel companies. I guess they didn't get the message that they were just supposed to lose money selling fuel in Washington, so we pay more. Maybe it will work next time. Haha.

 

[Skypower]

This mandate wasn’t brought to the politicians by the public and we know that they haven’t had an original thought of their own. So the question remains, was it brought to them by someone who filled their pockets? Was it the power companies or was it the recyclers who can’t process the panels for cost without a subsidy(us) supporting it.
Kinda evil. Make it look like a green initiative while killing the solar trend. Power companies couldn’t be happier. We have the best politicians money can buy.

 

[MTM98290]

This mandate wasn’t brought to the politicians by the public and we know that they haven’t had an original thought of their own. So the question remains, was it brought to them by someone who filled their pockets? Was it the power companies or was it the recyclers who can’t process the panels for cost without a subsidy(us) supporting it.
Kinda evil. Make it look like a green initiative while killing the solar trend. Power companies couldn’t be happier. We have the best politicians money can buy.

No doubt this is a multifaceted bill/motivation. They can make money extracting money from certain entities while collecting money from others, and meanwhile they will harm adoption of solar. I am ok with solar not being attached to the grid, but off grid solar will be hurt by this too. These taxes and fees to incentivize behaivior have gone way too far.

The politics of this state are absurd to say the least.

 

[Mattb4]

This bill recently passed and was signed by Washington Governor Bob Ferguson. It requires recycling and tracking of pv modules. The requirements are for manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, installers etc. The text seems to say that if a manufacturer isn't compliant they can be fined $10,000 per module.

Is this the end of off brand small pv modules in Washington?

Or is this the beginning of massive price increases?

Or are we about to have a local Santan Solar up here?

What do you make of this bill?

Reading through it it looks like Washington State does not want anyone to sell solar panels in the State after 2030. Companies are not going to set up programs to have free take back for the purpose of recycling. Especially so since recycling of them is going to be heavily regulated by Wa. State.

Glad I moved out of that state many decades ago. It always was difficult place with burdensome permits and tin pot bureaucrats to do much of anything.

 

[S Davis]

If I remember right battery retailers have similar rules in Wa state, I look at it a couple year ago.

https://zerowastewashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/MEDIA-RELEASE-Governor-signs-Washingtons-Battery-Recycling-Bill-into-law-May-11-2023.pdf

 

[onrbikes]

Or is this the beginning of massive price increases?

It's healthy to question the motive, but it's usually about money.

Here in WA, Western Australia the gov't gave healthy rebates years ago to instal larger PV arrays. People had to remove there old arrays as they weren't allowed to mix or instal used ones. "They're not effecient".
The consumer dug in and spent more.

The old solar panels then went to some retailers who sold them by the container load to outback Australia and Africa were they were happily accepted at a fraction of new price.
I bought 2400w for my offgrid house for less than 300aud. Perfectly good panels at the expense of another con.
Question even everything

 

[BerndL]

Just another shameless cash grab from the WA legislature. Their spending is through the roof, but they're worried about driving off the golden goose if they try to squeeze Amazon and Microsoft more. And Boeing, uh... We don't talk about Boeing.

Recycling solar panels is such a foolish idea. Just pile them in eastern Washington and dump a layer of sand on top to preserve them. In another century someone will probably want to do something with them.
If not, who cares? What are they going to do, leak silicon into the sand?