Santa Rosa County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

No solar-specific setbacks; agricultural zone setbacks apply by default; military obstruction standards may apply near NAS Whiting Field

CUP required in agricultural and rural zones; county commission review; no formal solar pre-application requirement; military compatibility review recommended near NAS Whiting Field

Neutral

Santa Rosa County is a fast-growing Pensacola suburb with strong military ties; no organized solar opposition; county commissioners have not formally adopted solar policy positions; Gulf Power IRP commitments may drive future pipeline activity in northern rural areas; military presence creates siting sensitivity in some zones but does not restrict solar by ordinance

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.

Gulf Power (NextEra Energy) has evaluated Santa Rosa County sites for IRP procurement; limited confirmed utility-scale projects in county; northern rural agricultural areas are viable sites; [TBV FL DEP FPSA registry and Gulf Power IRP for Santa Rosa County]

None on record