Introduction
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The state of Texas sued Global Fiberglass Solutions, saying it scrapped more than 3,000 wind turbine blades at an unauthorized site in Sweetwater.
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The state claims the company failed to recycle parts as promised and instead created a massive stockpile of industrial waste starting in 2017.
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Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking more than $1 million in fines and a court order to immediately clean up the sites.
Sweetwater, Texas – Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit against Global Fiberglass Solutions, Inc. and multiple affiliated entities, alleging the companies illegally dumped and abandoned thousands of wind turbine blades at two locations in Sweetwater.
The state’s petition, filed on behalf of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), claims the defendants created unpermitted disposal sites that threatened surrounding communities and violated state solid waste regulations.
Abandoned wind turbine blades in Texas
what are they talking about
“Illegal disposal of wind turbines harms our lands and will never be allowed on my watch,” Paxton said in a statement. “Just because the radical left calls something ‘green industry,’ does not give any company a free pass to harm rural Texas, violate our laws, and leave Texans to deal with the negative impacts.”
SWEETWATER, TEXAS – OCTOBER 4: Aerial view of abandoned wind turbine blades seen in a field next to Sweetwater Cemetery on October 4, 2023 in Sweetwater, Texas. General Electric has filed a lawsuit against Global Fiberglass, claiming the company failed to recycle thousands of turbine blades that were discarded in a field on the west side of town. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Backstory
According to the lawsuit, multiple companies hired Global to break down and recycle large turbine components. Instead, investigators documented inventories of more than 3,000 blades and nacelles (the casings that enclose turbine engines) abandoned at the two facilities.
The state claims that as of March 2025, the sites contained approximately 487,000 cubic yards of solid waste.
The lawsuit names Global Fiberglass Solutions of Texas, LLC, Global Fiberglass Solutions, Inc., GFSI-MHE Manufacturing of Texas, LLC, Vo Dynasty, LLC and individual Donald Lilly as defendants.
The state’s claims include:
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Failure to Recycle: Under Texas law, facilities must recycle at least 75% of accumulated materials each year to avoid being classified as a waste disposal site. The state claims Global has never met that threshold since it began operating in 2017.
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Breach of previous order: Global signed an “agreement order” in 2022 committing to stop accepting waste and obtain appropriate permits. Investigators said the company ignored the order, accepted new shipments and eventually abandoned the locations.
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Unauthorized Storage: None of the defendants was authorized by TCEQ to handle or store industrial solid waste at these locations.
SWEETWATER, TEXAS – OCTOBER 4: Aerial view of abandoned wind turbine blades seen in a field next to Sweetwater Cemetery on October 4, 2023 in Sweetwater, Texas. General Electric has filed a lawsuit against Global Fiberglass, claiming the company failed to recycle thousands of turbine blades that were discarded in a field on the west side of town. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
what’s next
The attorney general is seeking civil penalties ranging from $50 to $25,000 per day for each violation. Given the duration of the alleged violations, some dating to 2017, the state said it may seek more than $1 million in financial relief.
The lawsuit also seeks a permanent injunction forcing the companies to remove all unauthorized waste and dispose of it in licensed facilities within 180 days.
The case is currently pending in Travis County’s 201st District Court.
source
The information in this article comes from a lawsuit filed by the Texas Attorney General’s Press Office and Travis County.