69.5

Risk Grade

Poor

Strict agricultural land protection via LDC §5.05.15 and RFMUD/ACSC overlays; FPL territory but CUP process with significant design standards; agricultural-solar tension limits utility-scale pipeline; stable cautious board posture

Assessment Snapshot

Population

375752

State Rank

#22

Compliance

60%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

150 ft from property lines in agricultural zones; visual screening required; height restrictions in rural areas; buffers from Immokalee area agricultural operations

Zoning Mechanism

CUP required in agricultural/rural zones with significant design review; RFMUD (Rural Fringe Mixed Use District) has additional agricultural protection standards

Acreage Caps

None established

Density Caps

No formal density cap but RFMUD and ACSC (Area of Critical State Concern) overlay limits development in south Collier

Spacing Rules

None established

Size Restrictions

No county cap; ACSC and RFMUD overlays create practical size limitations in portions of county; FPSA applies >75 MW

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Mixed / Cautious

Basis for Assessment

Collier County has strong agricultural preservation interests, particularly in Immokalee and eastern areas; RFMUD and ACSC overlays create planning complexity; board historically prioritizes agricultural preservation and environmental protection over development

Political Risk Factors

Stable

Board Members

Commissioner Burt Saunders (Chair), Commissioner Daniel Kowal (VC)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

SERC / Florida Reliability Coordinating Council (FRCC) | FPL (NextEra Energy) transmission zone

Utilities

Florida Power & Light (FPL / NextEra Energy), Lee County Electric Cooperative (LCEC) — partial eastern/rural Collier

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

FPL distributed and C&I solar in Naples metro area; [TBV utility-scale CUP applications in agricultural zones — limited approvals on record]

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

Multiple CUP applications for agricultural-zone solar have faced extended review and modification requirements due to RFMUD and agricultural preservation policies | [TBV specifics]

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Collier County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment