AL HB623

Requires operators of utility-scale solar energy projects (2+ megawatts) to obtain a permit from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management, with a $2,500 filing fee and 30-day decision timeline

Mandates decommissioning within one year of ceasing operations and full land restoration within three years, with operators required to submit quarterly progress reports during the process

Requires operators to post a performance bond, security deposit, or other financial assurance of at least $10,000 per acre, updated every three years, to cover decommissioning and restoration costs

Creates the Abandoned Utility-Scale Solar Energy Project Fund in the State Treasury, authorizing the department to decommission and restore abandoned projects and place liens on affected properties to recover costs

Effective October 1, 2026, with the department authorized to adopt rules, inspect project sites, and enforce compliance through existing environmental enforcement mechanisms