SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / MO / Franklin

Franklin County, MO — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

39.2
Risk Grade
Good
No solar ordinance; commission actively studying moratorium; new politically conservative presiding commissioner (former R Senate leader Dave Schatz, apptd by Gov. Kehoe); statewide SB 849 pending adds overlay risk
Assessment Snapshot
Population
101,492
State Rank
#11
Compliance
55%
Trajectory
50

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
Under Review — P&Z Study Ordered 2025

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
None codified. No county-specific solar ordinance confirmed.
Zoning Mechanism
Franklin County Commission: CUP/SUP in Agricultural district.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Generally receptive — growing St. Louis suburb; agricultural community
Basis for Assessment
E Missouri; Sullivan/Washington area; growing St. Louis suburb; active solar in agricultural areas; local CUP
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
Dave Schatz | R | Presiding Commissioner (apptd. by Gov. Kehoe Mar 2025; former Senate President Pro Tem) | Term: 2026 | Paul Overschmidt | R | District I Commissioner | Term: 2028 | Ken Cox | R | District II Commissioner | Term: 2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
MISO / Ameren Missouri (AMMO) zone
Utilities
Ameren Missouri, Meramec Valley Cooperative
State Permitting Process
No statewide siting authority or preemption for utility-scale solar — full local control at county level. County CUP/SUP or special use process governs all utility-scale solar regardless of size. No minimum threshold above which state takes jurisdiction. County boards and planning commissions have full authority. Western MO (Kansas City area) in SPP territory; eastern and central MO in MISO territory — see Interconnection Zone column for per-county designation. Active local opposition and restrictive ordinances in rural counties 2020–2024.
State Incentives
Missouri has no Renewable Portfolio Standard — legislature has repeatedly declined to enact one. Net metering: available under MO PSC Order (Ameren Missouri, Evergy — limited program). Property tax exemption for solar equipment: available. Sales tax exemption: solar equipment purchases exempt under §144.020.1(10). New MO solar property tax structure (2025): fixed $2,500/MW for projects placed in service Aug 28 2025+. CRITICAL: MO SB 849 statewide solar moratorium (passed Senate Commerce Committee Feb 10 2026; Gov. Kehoe supports; emergency clause = immediate effect upon signing) would halt all new and current solar construction through Dec 31 2027. As of Mar 23 2026: pending full Senate/House vote. Utility: Ameren Missouri serves central/eastern MO; Evergy Kansas City serves western MO; multiple rural electric cooperatives serve agricultural areas.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
No confirmed utility-scale solar projects on public record as of Mar 2026.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed Missouri PSC denials for Franklin County. SB 849 moratorium if signed would block new utility-scale solar statewide.

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Last verified: Mar 2026 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes