Planning 101 CM Solar Decommissioning
PA’s New Solar Decommissioning Law
Local Government Academy, Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition, and the Pennsylvania Environmental Council join together on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. EDT for a session discussing the new Solar Decommissioning Law.
Registration Fee: $10 for CM Law Credits; Free for all otherwise
Description
In July, Pennsylvania enacted legislation (Act 44 of 2026) to establish unified standards for the decommissioning of commercial solar energy facilities. The statute establishes decommissioning planning requirements and financial assurance for solar energy facilities and the property owner along with filing requirements with the County Recorder of Deeds. For affected solar facilities, the law preempts local decommissioning ordinances. This webinar will provide an overview of the new law, discuss how the solar industry will adhere to the newly established requirements, and offer guidance on best practices for local governments.
Type of Session
Review of legislation, discussion of local government engagement and implications for land use decisions, Q&A
Target Audience
Professional and citizen planners, beginner to intermediate skill level; local government officials; environmental advisory councils.
Learning Objectives
- Increase awareness of Pennsylvania’s first statewide legislation for the decommissioning of ground-mounted commercial solar facilities.
- Establish a baseline understanding of the decommissioning obligations of solar energy developers /owners.
- Understand the effect of the new law on municipal ordinances.
- Gain insight into the solar industry’s perspective, and best practices for working with local governments to meet the new law’s criteria.
Contact Person
John Walliser, Senior Vice President
Pennsylvania Environmental Council
(724) 719-0069
PRESENTER #1
Caroline Fletcher, State Affairs Manager
Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC Action)
(443) 975-1676
[email protected]
Caroline Fletcher serves as the State Affairs Manager, focusing on state legislative and regulatory advocacy in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Kentucky, as well as member communications and event planning. Caroline comes to MAREC Action with several years of association experience, most recently from the Specialty Equipment Market Association where she worked on federal and state policy. Caroline previously held internship positions for Congressman Steny Hoyer and the Maryland Sierra Club. She holds a BA in Politics and Mathematics from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia.
PRESENTER #2
Catherine (Kate) Harper, Esq., Partner
Timoney Knox LLP
(215) 540-2622
Catherine M. (Kate) Harper, a partner at Timoney Knox LLP in Fort Washington, PA since 1997, was also a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in the House of Representatives, representing eastern Montgomery County for eighteen years. Kate has a general litigation practice but focuses on land use and municipal work (particularly, townships, boroughs and municipal authorities, as well as conservation and zoning law) and real estate. Kate represents local governments, zoning boards and land development applicants. She has led and been widely recognized by local government associations for her work as a local elected official and past Chair of the PA House Local Government Committee and serves on the boards of multiple conservation and recreation organizations, as well as the PA State Water Planning Committee. Kate graduated maxima cum laud with a degree in political science from LaSalle University. She earned her law degree from the Villanova University School of Law.
https://www.timoneyknox.com/team/catherine-m-kate-harper
PRESENTER #3
Joy M. Ruff, AICP, Executive Director
Local Government Academy
724-880-8670
Joy has a 30-year career working with local governments in both the private and public sectors. As a planning professional, she has a deep understanding of issues affecting local governments in Pennsylvania. In 2019, Joy became the Executive Director of Local Government Academy, which is a Non-Profit organization that provides non-partisan, fact-based education relevant to local governments in Pennsylvania. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, University of Pittsburgh and a Master of Arts in Communication Studies, from California University of Pennsylvania (now Pennsylvania Western University – California). She is a member of the American Institute of Certified Planners, American Planning Association, Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Planning Association, and appointed to the Board of Directors of the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority where she serves as Secretary.