Walton County, FL — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

No solar-specific setbacks; agricultural zone setbacks apply; coastal development pressures in South Walton do not extend to inland agricultural zones where solar would be sited

CUP required in agricultural and rural zones; county commission review; no formal solar pre-application requirement; inland rural applications are straightforward

Neutral–Supportive

Walton County is experiencing rapid growth in coastal South Walton; inland rural commissioners and landowners have an agricultural economic development orientation; no organized solar opposition; Gulf Power IRP commitments may drive future pipeline activity in inland agricultural areas; coastal growth pressures are geographically separated from agricultural solar development 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.

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

None on record