Polk County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

Agricultural and mining reclamation zone setbacks only; no solar-specific setback standards beyond property line requirements; phosphate mine reclamation sites offer minimal siting constraints; CUP conditions are standard

CUP in agricultural and mining reclamation zones; county commission review; TECO has established a working relationship with county for solar CUP applications; streamlined review for phosphate mine reclamation solar projects

Supportive

Polk County commissioners and the Tampa Electric service area are strongly supportive of utility-scale solar; phosphate mining reclamation provides unique land opportunities; TECO Kathleen Solar is a landmark project; agricultural landowners have actively engaged with solar lease programs; Duke Energy FL and independent developers are active in the county; 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.

Tampa Electric Kathleen Solar Energy Center (~100 MW, 2021, Polk County); Duke Energy FL Polk County solar procurement; multiple independent developer utility-scale projects approved and operational; Lakeland Electric (municipal) has solar programs; [TBV full project list from FL DEP FPSA registry and TECO IRP 2023 for Polk County]

None on record