Decommissioning and Financial Assurance: desk report

The rule

Code computed the rating from the assessor's inputs:

extent=core, avoidable=partly -> 3

Set by the rule

Decision

Released

Evidence state

REPORTED · desktop, consultant or developer record

The assessor's comments

ORC 4906.21 to 4906.222 require a decommissioning plan and performance bond. Bond equal to the estimate is due before construction, updated every five years, never reduced. Estimate is $11.6 million gross, $5.7 million net of salvage; OPSB treatment of salvage is unsettled. Leases require 36-inch removal and separate landowner security.

Worst case

The same rule on the worst case gives no rating above the point.

• Present: yes

  OPSB pre-application summary confirms ORC 4906.21 to 4906.222 decommissioning plan and performance bond requirements apply (C-7818388af6). Lease requires removal to 36 inches and soil restoration (C-00d4067593), with separate security per landowner (C-f3daa0fd5a).

  Cites C-7818388af6, C-00d4067593, C-f3daa0fd5a

• Extent: core

  State statute and the bond govern the whole project; leases require removal and restoration across leased land (C-7818388af6, C-0dda429c60, C-e278af1a95). The Parcel 7 collection easement adds removal of above-ground equipment two years after operations stop (C-4e2febbe42).

  Cites C-7818388af6, C-0dda429c60, C-e278af1a95, C-4e2febbe42

• Avoidable: partly

  Terms are front-loaded: a bond equal to the estimate must be posted before construction, updated every five years and never reduced (C-0dda429c60). Whether OPSB accepts the net-of-salvage figure ($5.7M) or requires gross ($11.6M) is unsettled, and salvage values are volatile (C-303a605026, C-7f2ea3298c, C-b508b5b110). Leases also require separate security per landowner (C-f3daa0fd5a).

  Cites C-0dda429c60, C-303a605026, C-7f2ea3298c, C-b508b5b110, C-f3daa0fd5a

• Pathway: standard

  A decommissioning plan prepared by a registered professional is submitted to OPSB under Ohio law, with a bond and routine five-year updating (C-b6d40fe4d7, C-0dda429c60). The salvage question is an open item, not a documented dispute with the authority (C-7f2ea3298c). Timing details beyond the quoted text are not relied on.

  Cites C-b6d40fe4d7, C-0dda429c60, C-7f2ea3298c

• Impact likely: yes

  A performance bond must be posted before construction and lease security is required, tying up capital or credit; the plan commits the project to funded removal to 36 inches and restoration (C-0dda429c60, C-00d4067593, C-f3daa0fd5a).

  Cites C-0dda429c60, C-00d4067593, C-f3daa0fd5a

Supporting statements (11)

Each claim the row cites: the statement in the assessor's words, then the quote the engine found on the page.

1. C-00d4067593

   Lease requires lessee to remove facilities to 36 inches depth and restore soil within 12 months after lease end, with security posted.

   Lessee removes all facilities to a depth of 36 inches and restores the soil within 12 months after

   Option and Lease Summary - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0004 · Page 1 · 2023-05-30

   Source developer_document · Claim type regulatory · Polarity presence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 1, claim C-00d4067593

2. C-0dda429c60

   A performance bond with the Board as obligee, equal to the estimate, must be posted before construction, updated every five years and never reduced.

   Before construction it must post a performance bond, with the Board as obligee, equal to the estimate; the bond is updated every five years and is never reduced.

   Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 1 · 2023-03-20

   Source developer_document · Claim type regulatory · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 1, claim C-0dda429c60

3. C-303a605026

   Decommissioning estimate in 2023 dollars is $11.6 million gross, $5.9 million salvage, $5.7 million net.

   Total $11.6 million $5.9 million $5.7 million

   Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 2 · 2023-03-20

   Source developer_document · Claim type cost · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 2, claim C-303a605026

4. C-4e2febbe42

   The easement ends two years after the project permanently stops operating; grantee must remove above-ground equipment and remove or leave buried cables at grantor's election.

   ends two (2) years after it permanently stops operating

   Underground Collection Line Easement Agreement - Parcel 7 · DR-0003 · Page 1 · 2022-11-03

   Source public_record · Claim type constraint · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Filed under PE-05, PE-06

   See it on page 1, claim C-4e2febbe42

5. C-640e804855

   Plan for battery removal and recycling at end of life in the decommissioning plan.

   Plan for battery removal and recycling at end of life in the decommissioning plan.

   Battery Energy Storage System Fire Safety Narrative - Tamsin Ridge · DR-0014 · Page 2 · 2023-06-28

   Source consultant_memo · Claim type recommendation · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Filed under EG-04, PE-06

   See it on page 2, claim C-640e804855

6. C-7818388af6

   Decommissioning plan and performance bond requirements of ORC 4906.21 to 4906.222 apply.

   decommissioning plan and performance bond requirements of ORC 4906.21 to 4906.222 apply.

   OPSB Pre-Application Conference Summary - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0026 · Page 1 · 2023-03-28

   Source agency_determination · Claim type regulatory · Polarity presence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 1, claim C-7818388af6

7. C-7f2ea3298c

   Whether OPSB accepts the estimate net of salvage ($5.7 million) or requires gross ($11.6 million) has not been settled.

   whether OPSB will accept the estimate net of salvage ($5.7 million) or require the gross figure ($11.6 million) has not been settled.

   Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 2 · 2023-03-20

   Source developer_document · Claim type data_gap · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Filed under PE-02, PE-06

   See it on page 2, claim C-7f2ea3298c

8. C-b508b5b110

   Salvage values rely on volatile scrap prices and could fall well short of the estimate.

   Scrap prices are volatile, and salvage could fall well short of these figures.

   Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 2 · 2023-03-20

   Source developer_document · Claim type data_gap · Polarity neutral · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   See it on page 2, claim C-b508b5b110

9. C-b6d40fe4d7

   Ohio law requires an engineer-prepared decommissioning plan submitted to the OPSB at least 60 days before construction, with removal ending within 12 months of cessation.

   the applicant must submit a comprehensive decommissioning plan prepared by a registered professional

   Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 1 · 2023-03-20

   Source developer_document · Claim type regulatory · Polarity presence · Confidence medium · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

   Filed under PE-02, PE-06

   See it on page 1, claim C-b6d40fe4d7

10. C-e278af1a95

    The leases require removal and restoration within 12 months after they end.

    The leases also require removal and restoration within 12 months after they end.

    Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 1 · 2023-03-20

    Source developer_document · Claim type constraint · Polarity presence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    Filed under PE-05, PE-06

    See it on page 1, claim C-e278af1a95

11. C-f3daa0fd5a

    The leases require separate security for each landowner, which the bond is intended to satisfy.

    The leases require separate security for each landowner, which the bond is intended to satisfy.

    Preliminary Decommissioning Plan and Cost Estimate - Tamsin Ridge Solar and Storage Project · DR-0024 · Page 2 · 2023-03-20

    Source developer_document · Claim type constraint · Polarity presence · Confidence high · Quote check exact, 100 of 100

    Filed under PE-05, PE-06

    See it on page 2, claim C-f3daa0fd5a

• Confirm with OPSB whether the bond may be net of salvage.
• Align lease security with the OPSB bond and confirm bond form with the surety or lender.
• Include battery removal and recycling in the decommissioning plan and estimate.

Agencies