Hendry County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Agricultural zone setbacks only; no solar-specific setbacks; county has informally streamlined review for FPL and major developer pipeline

CUP in agricultural/rural zones; Hendry County treats utility-scale solar as by-right-compatible agricultural use in most ag-zoned areas; fastest CUP review timeline in region

Supportive

Hendry County commissioners have publicly supported FPL solar pipeline as economic development and agricultural revenue; county has the largest agricultural land base of any FL county in this region; landowners actively seek solar lease revenue; no opposition on record

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 Corkscrew Solar Energy Center (74.5 MW, 2017); FPL Hendry County Solar Phase I (~74.5 MW, 2020); FPL Hendry County Solar Phase II (~74.5 MW, 2022); FPL Hendry County Solar Phase III (pipeline, 2024–2025); [TBV additional projects from FL DEP FPSA registry]

None on record