Putnam County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

No solar-specific setbacks; agricultural zone setbacks apply by default; St. Johns River buffer requirements may apply near water bodies

CUP required in agricultural and rural zones; county commission review; no dedicated solar pre-application process; limited county planning staff capacity

Neutral

Putnam County is a rural north FL county with an agricultural and timber economy; no organized solar opposition; commissioners have not publicly addressed utility-scale solar policy; FPL serves the county but pipeline activity has been limited; large agricultural and timberland parcels along Hwy 17 and CR 20 corridors have solar development potential

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.

Very limited confirmed utility-scale projects; FPL has evaluated Putnam County sites for future procurement; St. Johns River management area may impose some siting constraints; [TBV FL DEP FPSA registry]

None on record