Decommissioning: Who Pays?
Illinois sets the cleanup rules for utility-scale solar, and counties can’t require more. Here’s what the state agreement actually guarantees, and when.
Of cleanup cost guaranteed by year 1
Source: Standard Solar AIMA
By year 6
Source: Standard Solar AIMA
Not until year 11
Source: Standard Solar AIMA
To finish removal after end of useful life
Source: Standard Solar AIMA
The Rules in Plain English
A plan, filed with the county
The developer files a deconstruction plan with the county during the permit process and updates it by the end of year 10. (AIMA)
Money phased in slowly
Financial assurance (a bond or similar, with the county or landowner as beneficiary) phases in 10% / 50% / 100% at years 1, 6 and 11. (AIMA)
Counties can't ask for more
Counties may not require construction, decommissioning or financial-assurance standards stricter than the standard AIMA. (§5-12020(j))
What must be removed
Panels, racking and piles, foundations to 5 ft, inverters and substations, buildings and access roads (unless the landowner keeps them). Cables 5 ft or deeper may stay. (AIMA)
Salvage value
Salvage can reduce the estimate only if the county agrees the salvage interests are subordinate to the financial assurance. (AIMA)
Abandonment
A project is presumed at end of life if the owner misses landowner payments for 6 consecutive months. If removal isn’t done within 12 months after end of life, it counts as abandoned. (AIMA)
What Would Change
HB 5477
Would require an engineer’s deconstruction plan and let counties change the level of financial assurance. (Synopsis)
Grundy County's ordinance
Grundy’s June 2026 ordinance calls for irrevocable financial assurances for decommissioning and reclamation. (Shaw Local)
Cleanup guarantees shouldn't take 11 years.
Tell your legislators to front-load decommissioning protections.