Henry County, MO — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

None codified. No county-specific solar ordinance confirmed.

Henry County Commission: CUP/SUP in Agricultural district.

Deeply divided. Residents discovered 5,000-acre Beavertail project in early 2024 after 6 years of non-public negotiations. Public anger led to 2 incumbent commissioners losing reelection in 2024. New 2025 commission approved $650M Chapter 100 deal over continued public opposition.

W Missouri agricultural; Clinton area; active solar; local CUP

Stable

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.

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.

Beavertail Solar (Ranger Power / Google-contracted) | 400 MW | ~5,000 acres in Davis & Walker Townships | Chapter 100 tax abatement approved Dec 2024; Under construction 2025–2026; Operational target 2027 | $650M public-financed deal | $1.1M/yr county payment + 2.5% escalator

Previous Henry County Commission (pre-2024) rejected proposed solar ordinance and indefinitely banned all solar projects (2021). Pro-solar successor commissioners reversed position in 2024.