Risk Grade

Good

B-grade reflects favorable SW Georgia agricultural profile, flat terrain, low compliance burden, and stable political environment; standard profile for productive solar counties in South Georgia; declining population reduces suburban opposition risk

Assessment Snapshot

Population

24633

State Rank

#37

Compliance

35%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

100 ft from property lines; 200 ft from residences; road setbacks per GDOT; vegetative screening encouraged

Zoning Mechanism

CUP from Grady County Board of Commissioners; planning commission advisory; public hearing required; limited planning staff

Acreage Caps

No formal cap

Density Caps

None adopted

Spacing Rules

Not specified

Size Restrictions

None formal

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral-to-receptive; agricultural community open to solar lease income; Cairo city government neutral; no organized opposition active; Florida border area sees some cross-border developer activity

Basis for Assessment

Grady County Commission minutes; Cairo Messenger; Georgia Power service territory; Diverse Power/Sumter EMC; GEFA

Political Risk Factors

Stable; conservative rural county; agricultural landowners receptive to solar lease income; commission broadly pro-development; no organized opposition active; Florida border proximity brings some regional development activity

Board Members

[Board of Commissioners] | See county website | Non-Partisan | Term Expires: Unknown

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

SERC / Georgia Power (Southern Company)

Utilities

Georgia Power, Diverse Power (limited rural areas)

State Permitting Process

County zoning authority; no state solar preemption; conditional use permit typically required for utility-scale (>1 MW)

State Incentives

Federal ITC eligible; no Georgia state solar tax credit; Georgia Power IRP solar procurement program

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Approximately 1 utility-scale project in agricultural county portions, ~20–30 MW, 2020–2023; SW Georgia grid interconnection; Georgia Power territory

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

None confirmed

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Grady County, GA — Solar Development Risk Assessment