3/18 Update. Asbury Park Press OpEd: WOOLWICH: Jackson must require solar panel disposal fund.
"KDC Solar, the developer of the Six Flags Solar Plant plans to use Chinese-manufactured LDK solar panels, which fail the Toxicity Characterization Leaching Process for lead... causing them to become hazardous waste at their end-of-life."
"KDC Solar, the developer of the Six Flags Solar Plant plans to use Chinese-manufactured LDK solar panels, which fail the Toxicity Characterization Leaching Process for lead... causing them to become hazardous waste at their end-of-life."
Above: the two panel types to be used in Six Flags/KDC Solar power plant were rated 'BELOW AVERAGE' and BELOW 'BELOW AVERAGE' by 2015 Solar Scorecard, produced by Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, industry's leading organization. Jennifer Woolwich, the president of the ONLY photovoltaic panel recycling company in United States ever to exist, and one of the world's top experts on panel toxicity, came down from New York to testify about the dire need for the pre-funding of the solar site's decommission and recycling... because the solar panels that Six Flags Great Adventure and KDC Solar intend to install do not pass the TCLP (toxic leaching test).
She was denied testimony by the Board, who received a copy of her presentation before she was formally admitted as a witness and proceeded to shut down her testimony.
The significance of her message is that end-of-life considerations for solar installations cannot be left to chance, especially given that KDC Solar and Six Flags Great Adventure plan to install bottom-tier panels which are not RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) compliant and do not pass TCLP (Toxicity Characterization Leaching Process).
Are you wondering about panel toxicity? Read this report by Silicon Valley Toxic's Coalition, which lists lead and carcinogens such as cadmium telluride and hexavalent chromium among panel contents.
The 25-year estimated useful life is a long time, during which many things can happen. KDC can no longer be in business at the end-of-life and will not be there to take on the responsibility of decommission and recycling.
Corporations have a way of shielding themselves from responsibility and minimizing their liability through legal maneuvering and loopholes. The only way to guarantee that the site will be decommissioned properly and will not turn into a toxic dump is if the Township requires a pre-funded decommission plan.
Check out Jennifer Woolwich's Presentation.
Though this presentation was designed to serve as a visual aid rather than a stand-alone narrative, it is clear why the Board refused to let her testify... they didn't want the information about sub-par panels (50,000 of them!) on the record.
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