Environment (Recycling)

SB 2527 requires solar energy companies (grantees) to plan for and cover the costs of removing solar panels and restoring land after a solar facility agreement ends. It mandates that agreements with landowners include specific financial guarantees - starting at 5% of removal costs when operations begin, increasing to 50% after 10 years, and 100% after 15 years - to ensure land restoration. The bill applies to all solar facilities 5MW or larger (excluding smaller projects unless specified in agreements) and prohibits contracts that waive a company’s liability for removal or restoration. It also prevents local governments from imposing stricter removal requirements than those set by the bill.

SB 2312, the Wastewater Treatment System Infrastructure Sustainability Act, requires Mississippi's Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to create a statewide letter grading system (A-F) for community wastewater systems serving 15+ connections. The grades will be based on compliance with permits and water quality standards, financial health, infrastructure condition, and customer satisfaction. MDEQ must publish annual scores and grades online by 2028, and each wastewater system must notify customers of their grade within 30 days of publication. This law directly affects all municipal wastewater systems in Mississippi, aiming to improve transparency, public health protection, and infrastructure sustainability.