SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / AL / Baldwin

Baldwin County, AL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

32.2
Risk Grade
Excellent
Fastest-growing county in Alabama; functional permitting; strong economic development posture; Alabama Power territory limits net metering but low political risk
Assessment Snapshot
Population
231767
State Rank
#2
Compliance
32%
Trajectory
25

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
50 ft property line setback; 150 ft road setback for utility-scale (estimated)
Zoning Mechanism
Building permit required; county planning board review for large projects
Acreage Caps
None established
Density Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
None established
Size Restrictions
None established

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Supportive
Basis for Assessment
Fastest-growing AL county; strong development community; coastal economy receptive to clean energy
Political Risk Factors
Stable-Improving
Board Members
5-member county commission (elected)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SERC — Southern Company / Alabama Power
Utilities
Alabama Power, Baldwin EMC
State Permitting Process
County-level only; no statewide solar permitting statute
State Incentives
Limited — no RPS; net metering capped at 2 MW residential

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Foley Solar / Hecate Energy (80 MW, 2024); Stockton I / Silicon Ranch (est. 80 MW, 2025); Stockton II / Silicon Ranch (est. 180 MW, 2025)
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
0

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Last verified: April 2026 (web research) | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes