Hernando County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Standard zoning setbacks apply | No county-specific solar setbacks established

CUP required in agricultural and rural residential zones; board has applied standard review without notable solar opposition

Neutral

Conservative suburban Tampa-north county; Duke Energy Florida territory; moderate CUP compliance; limited utility-scale pipeline given suburban character; neutral-to-cautious board posture; no organized solar opposition on record

Stable

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.

Duke Energy Florida distributed solar programs; limited utility-scale activity | [TBV CUP filings]

None on record