Lee County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Agricultural zone setbacks only; no solar-specific setback standards beyond standard property line requirements; CUP conditions may include landscaping buffers near residential zones

CUP in agricultural/rural zones; county commission review; post-Ian resilience framing has made commissioners more receptive to solar CUP applications

Supportive

Lee County commissioners have publicly supported solar as part of post-Hurricane Ian resilience strategy; FPL has active presence; agricultural landowners in eastern Lee County (Alva, Buckingham areas) have explored solar lease opportunities; no organized opposition

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 has operational and pipeline solar projects in Lee County unincorporated areas; Babcock Ranch (adjacent to Charlotte County) is connected to Lee market; post-Ian distributed solar has increased; [TBV specific utility-scale project names from FL DEP FPSA registry]

None on record