Palm Beach 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; western agricultural areas have minimal visual/residential conflict

CUP in agricultural zones via ULDC; county commission review; Clean Energy Plan has created supportive internal policy environment; no mandatory pre-application conference for solar

Supportive

Palm Beach County is one of Florida's most solar-supportive large counties; the Board of County Commissioners has adopted a Clean Energy Plan with renewable energy targets; western Palm Beach County agricultural areas (Belle Glade, Pahokee, Clewiston corridor) are ideal for utility-scale solar; FPL has an active procurement pipeline; no organized opposition to utility-scale solar in agricultural zones

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 western Palm Beach County (Belle Glade / Glades / Sugar Belt area); projects are consistent with FPL's south Florida solar development pattern; Palm Beach County Clean Energy Plan supports solar procurement; [TBV specific project list from FL DEP FPSA registry and FPL IRP 2023 for Palm Beach County]

None on record