NSW Decommissioning and Land Restoration Obligations for Wind and Solar Energy Projects

Energy and Other Legislation Amendment (Renewable Energy Infrastructure) Bill 2026 (No. 2)

Opposition Bill

14 May 2026: MPs in the first house are debating whether this bill is a good idea in principle.

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

environmental protection land remediation renewable energy solar power transport infrastructure wind energy

Introduced by: James Griffin MP (LIB)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The NSW renewable energy sector board must plan how to decommission energy infrastructure.
The board must propose amendments to the NSW renewable energy sector plan.
Operators of specific solar electricity works must get an environment protection licence.
The Minister for the Environment can only transfer these licences to fit and proper persons.
Holders of development consents for wind and solar works must reuse or recycle materials during decommissioning.
These holders must restore land to its original condition.
Holders must provide security payments to the consent authority.
The government can use this security if the holder fails to restore the land.

News articles and press releases

Energy and Other Legislation Amendment (Renewable Energy Infrastructure) Bill 2026 (No. 2)

Mr JAMES GRIFFIN, Member for Manly — 2026-05-14

the Coalition would empower the NSW Renewable Energy Sector Board to prepare a plan on how to ensure the decommissioning and recycling of large‑scale solar and wind projects would be delivered across the State. The board would engage with communities, industry and other key stakeholders in the development of the plan. Importantly, one aspect of the legislation would be to ensure that, for example, decommissioning works start no later than two years after a project is no longer functioning