As solar PV deployment increases in the U.S., so will the volume of decommissioned PV modules and balance of system equipment, and large amounts of annual waste are anticipated by the early 2030s. Currently, there are over 65 GW of solar PV installed in the U.S., which is the equivalent of over 5 million tons of PV modules. In order to get ahead of this looming, as well as present challenge, our team has worked with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to conduct an in-depth study of material flow pathways from PV system decommissioning to secondary use applications and recycling in order to inform an evidence- based assessment of decommissioning trends and regulatory policy in the United States. Our study focused on four main themes: (1) an analysis of U.S. decommissioning policies and regulations, (2) an analysis of U.S. decommissioning costs, plans, and trends, (3) a comparative analysis of international decommissioning policies and regulations, and (4) a market analysis of the potential for a U.S. PV system circular economy. The research and analysis performed in this project is essential to the understanding and formation of a sustainable circular economy for solar photovoltaic energy generation. Our greatest desire is that this work informs and inspires many others in this impactful and promising field.