New London County, CT — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

None codified at county level. CSC sets conditions for >1 MW; municipal zoning governs ≤1 MW.

Municipal ZBA/PZC: Special Exception or variance for ≤1 MW. CSC certification for >1 MW (bypasses local zoning).

Generally receptive — USCGA/CC university; active solar; military land use context

SE CT; New London (US Coast Guard Academy/Connecticut College); Groton submarine base; military land use; CT Siting Council >1 MW; active solar in agricultural areas

Improving

Connecticut Siting Council (CSC, CGS §16-50i et seq.) has jurisdiction for all electric generation facilities >1 MW. CSC can affirm or revoke municipal zoning orders — effectively can preempt local zoning. CSC must give consideration to municipal regulations but is not bound by them. Projects ≤1 MW: local zoning commission governs. Projects on agricultural land >2 MW: DEEP NDDB review + CT Dept of Agriculture letter required. Agricultural land with prime farmland soils: applicant must demonstrate project will not materially affect prime farmland status; DoAg must certify to CSC. DEEP Construction Stormwater General Permit required for all solar construction. ISO-NE interconnection required statewide.

CT Clean Energy Standard (CES): 40% clean electricity by 2030; 100% by 2040. CT Green Bank: zero-interest financing and rebates for commercial/residential solar (greenbank.com). Shared Clean Energy Facility (SCEF): community solar program for subscribers. Virtual Net Metering: multi-site credit for CL&P/PURA-regulated customers. DEEP competitive solicitations: 518 MW selected Dec 2024; 67 MW CT allocation from 4-state RFP 2025. Utility: Eversource (CL&P) serves most of CT; United Illuminating (UI) serves New Haven/Bridgeport area.

Solar development active in New London County — rural southeastern CT; agricultural land and reasonable grid interconnection. Eversource (CL&P) serves New London County. CT Siting Council docket: Salem (New London Co.) has pending solar petition (CSC Petition No. 1704 — TRITEC Americas 1.99 MW Salem — docket active 2025). CT DEEP 2024 518 MW solicitation selected projects likely include New London Co. area.

TRITEC Americas LLC 1.99 MW Salem (New London Co.) — declaratory ruling petition active (CSC Petition 1704). No confirmed broad denials for New London County.