DeSoto County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Agricultural zone setbacks only; no solar-specific setbacks beyond standard property line requirements; county has informally expedited review for FPL pipeline projects

CUP in agricultural zones; county commission has approved utility-scale solar CUPs on administrative track; no formal opposition from planning board

Supportive

DeSoto County commissioners have publicly welcomed FPL solar as economic development; agricultural landowners have engaged favorably with solar lease arrangements; no organized opposition; county is recognized as Florida's premier utility-scale solar development location

Improving

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.

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.

FPL DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center (25 MW, 2009 — first utility-scale in FL); FPL Sunshine Gateway Solar Energy Center (74.5 MW, 2019); Origis Energy DeSoto Solar (~75 MW, 2023 operational); FPL additional DeSoto County projects (ongoing pipeline, 2022–2025); [TBV full project list]

None on record