Hardee 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 aligned with DeSoto model for expedited review

CUP in agricultural/rural zones; county commission aligned with DeSoto County approach — utility-scale solar treated as compatible agricultural land use

Supportive

Hardee County is part of the DeSoto-Hardee solar development corridor; county commission has approved FPL pipeline projects; agricultural landowners engaged favorably with solar lease arrangements; county views solar as compatible with agricultural economy

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 Peace River Solar Energy Center (~74.5 MW, 2022); FPL Hardee County solar projects (ongoing DeSoto-Hardee corridor pipeline, 2022–2025); [TBV full project list from FL DEP FPSA registry]

None on record