SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / MS / Bolivar

Bolivar County, MS — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

50.6
Risk Grade
Fair
Delta poverty and weak grid infrastructure increase development risk; no solar ordinance; declining population removes rationale for county investment in solar policy.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
30,628
State Rank
#30
Compliance
62%
Trajectory
62

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
No county-specific solar setbacks adopted. State building code minimums apply; conditions negotiated project-by-project with Board of Supervisors.
Zoning Mechanism
Board of Supervisors discretionary approval; general agricultural/rural zoning; no codified CUP process for solar.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Low engagement. Delta county; agricultural landowners control large tracts ideal for utility-scale solar, but economic distress and political inertia limit momentum.
Basis for Assessment
Delta poverty context; cotton/soy farming economy; Entergy MS grid adequate but aging in rural Delta; no documented solar developer outreach.
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
5-member Board of Supervisors; Democratic majority (majority-minority county); terms expire 2027.

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
MISO South / Entergy Mississippi transmission zone
Utilities
Entergy Mississippi, Bolivar County Electric Power Association
State Permitting Process
No statewide solar siting law. Utility-scale solar regulated at county level by Board of Supervisors via discretionary zoning or conditional use permits. Counties retain full authority to approve, condition, or deny projects with no state preemption. MPSC oversees electric utilities; no formal solar siting review below 300 MW. FERC/MISO or SERC interconnection governs projects >20 MW.
State Incentives
No state RPS or SREC market. Solar equipment property tax exemption (Miss. Code Ann. §27-31-101). Net metering under MPSC Rule 29 (capped at 150% of 12-month avg usage; interconnection fee may apply). Federal ITC (30% under IRA 2022) is primary incentive. No state solar grant or loan programs. TVA Green Power Switch applies in TVA-served northeast MS counties.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
No confirmed utility-scale solar projects on record.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed denials on record.

Explore the Full Tracker

View risk assessments for all 3,100+ US counties, compare states, and download detailed ordinance data for your solar development pipeline.

Launch SolarRisk Tracker

Last verified: 2026-04-03 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes