Osceola County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Agricultural zone setbacks only; no solar-specific setback standards; southern Osceola rural areas have minimal siting constraints; CUP conditions are standard

CUP in agricultural zones; county commission review; southern Osceola applications have been processed efficiently; county has established familiarity with large FPL solar CUP applications

Supportive

Osceola County commissioners have been strongly receptive to FPL solar development in the southern agricultural areas; the Yeehaw Junction corridor in southern Osceola is recognized as a premier solar development zone; agricultural landowners have engaged favorably with FPL solar lease programs; no organized opposition; county staff have developed familiarity with large-scale solar CUP review

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 multiple operational and pipeline utility-scale solar projects in southern Osceola County (Yeehaw Junction / SR 60 corridor); projects include large-scale FPL solar centers in the 74.5 MW range consistent with FPL development pattern; [TBV specific project names and MW from FL DEP FPSA registry and FPL IRP 2023 filings for Osceola County]

None on record