Who Pays for Worn-Out Renewables? The Hidden Risks in Wyoming's Renewable Rules

In this episode of Eye on the Issues, we sit down with Curtis Schube, Executive Director of the Council to Modernize Governance and co-author of a groundbreaking report from the National Center for Energy Analytics. His work takes a deep dive into an overlooked but increasingly urgent question: What happens when wind and solar facilities reach the end of their lifespan—and who pays for it?

Curtis walks us through a state-by-state analysis of financial assurance requirements for the decommissioning of renewable energy sites, revealing a stark contrast between regulations for traditional energy industries and those governing renewable projects. While oil and gas regulators in most states require robust, mandatory financial assurances to ensure sites can be safely reclaimed, the renewable sector lags far behind—earning failing grades in more than half the states surveyed. Wyoming, despite its significant renewable development, is among the states that received an F grade.

We explore why these gaps exist, the risk of “orphaned” renewable sites, and how the lack of sufficient upfront financial protections could ultimately leave taxpayers footing the bill. Curtis also explains the real-world challenges of decommissioning wind turbines and solar panels—from toxic materials to limited landfill availability—and why the shelf life of these technologies may be much shorter than advertised.

This interview highlights a crucial but often ignored part of America’s energy transition: the need to think not just about building new energy systems, but responsibly planning for their end-of-life impacts. For policymakers in Wyoming and beyond, Curtis offers straightforward, actionable guidance rooted in five key regulatory criteria that can help prevent long-term environmental and fiscal liabilities.

The full report is available at https://www.modernizegovernance.org/are-taxpayers-exposed-as-renewable-energy-is-put-on-the-fast-track/ as well as https://energyanalytics.org/hidden-energy-liability/