SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / FL / Citrus

Citrus County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

80
Risk Grade
Fail
Conservative board with worsening trajectory toward large-scale solar; high compliance score reflects practical barriers despite absence of formal moratorium; restrictive ordinance posture and limited CUP approvals; Duke Energy Florida territory
Assessment Snapshot
Population
153843
State Rank
#23
Compliance
60%
Trajectory
80

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
Standard rural zoning setbacks; no solar-specific setbacks established; informal board guidance has suggested additional buffers for rural projects [TBV]
Zoning Mechanism
CUP required in agricultural/rural zones; board has applied heightened scrutiny to large rural development applications
Acreage Caps
None established
Density Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
None established
Size Restrictions
No county cap; FPSA applies for facilities >75 MW (FL DEP siting jurisdiction)

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed–Resistant
Basis for Assessment
Conservative Citrus County Commission has expressed skepticism toward large-scale rural development; limited solar CUP track record; community sentiment leans toward preserving rural character; no formal moratorium but board posture creates practical barrier
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
Commissioner Jeff Kinnard (D1), Commissioner Diana Finegan (D2/Chair), Commissioner Janet A. Barek (D3), Commissioner Rebecca Bays (D4), Commissioner Holly L. Davis (D5)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SERC / FRCC | Duke Energy Florida transmission zone
Utilities
Duke Energy Florida, Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative
State Permitting Process
Florida Power Siting Act (FPSA) — Florida DEP has siting jurisdiction for facilities >75 MW. Below 75 MW, county land use authority governs via CUP/SUP process. Florida Statute §163.3205 (2024) limits county restrictions on solar in agricultural zones — cannot prohibit as a matter of law. No state-level preemption below 75 MW threshold. FPL (NextEra Energy) dominates utility-scale procurement in southern and eastern FL; Duke Energy Florida serves central west coast; Tampa Electric (TECO) serves Hillsborough/Polk corridor; Florida Power & Light interconnects through FPL transmission. County commission approves CUPs for projects <75 MW in unincorporated areas.
State Incentives
Florida has no state RPS (Renewable Portfolio Standard) — only a voluntary goal (100% clean energy by 2050). Key incentives: Federal ITC (30% base + energy community/domestic content adders). Florida Statute §163.3205 (2024) limits local government ability to restrict solar on agricultural land — counties cannot ban solar outright on ag-zoned land. Net metering available. Property tax exemption for residential solar (FL Const. Art. VII §3). No state income tax. USDA REAP for rural projects. FPL, Duke Energy Florida, and Tampa Electric IRP programs include significant utility-scale solar procurement.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Limited utility-scale approvals on record; primarily rooftop/small commercial | [TBV any CUP approvals for utility-scale]
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
[TBV — research potential denied/delayed utility-scale CUP applications given conservative board posture]

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