SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / MS / Jefferson

Jefferson County, MS — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

64.6
Risk Grade
Poor
One of the highest-risk counties in Mississippi: extreme poverty, near-total population collapse, no governance capacity for solar review, and very weak grid infrastructure. Only flat land and decent solar irradiance are positive attributes.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
7,082
State Rank
#41
Compliance
75%
Trajectory
75

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
No county solar setbacks. No zoning framework to establish requirements.
Zoning Mechanism
Board of Supervisors discretionary authority only; no formal zoning code; no 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
Non-functional for solar development. One of the two poorest counties in the US; near-total population collapse; county government with minimal administrative capacity; no economic rationale for solar engagement.
Basis for Assessment
Second-lowest MHI in Mississippi; severe population decline; no solar developer interest; grid barely maintained by Entergy MS.
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
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, Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association (SMEPA)
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.

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