Davidson County, NC — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Active Moratorium — Davidson County 24-month ban (Dec 2024–Dec 2026)

Under active moratorium (Dec 2024–Dec 2026). Prior ordinance: 25 ft height limit; 5-acre minimum lot size. Class A Special Use Permit required in RA-1, RA-2, RA-3, RC, OI, LI, HI, and PEC zones.

Davidson County Board of Adjustment/Board of Commissioners: Special Use Permit (SUP) or Conditional Use Permit (CUP).

Restrictive — Active 24-month solar moratorium (Dec 2024–Dec 2026); county reviewing solar ordinance; prior active solar market; Duke Carolinas

C NC Piedmont; Lexington area; Davidson County enacted 24-MONTH MORATORIUM Dec 17 2024 (expires Dec 2026) — reviewing and developing new solar ordinance while moratorium active; prior to moratorium very active solar market; Duke Carolinas

Worsening

Full local control — no statewide preemption for siting and permitting of utility-scale solar. County Board of Commissioners issues Special Use Permit (SUP) or Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for utility-scale solar under county Unified Development Ordinance (UDO). All sizes subject to local zoning; no threshold for state takeover. NCUC Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) required for utility-owned generation; IPP developers selling to Duke/Dominion under PURPA or competitive procurement typically handle NCUC process through utility. NC DEQ: decommissioning plan registration required for ≥2 MW (SL 2023-58, eff. Nov 1 2025); DEQ rules (15A NCAC 01V) effective April 1, 2025. NC land use law (2021) modernized ordinance language and clarified solar provisions. N.C.G.S. §160D-107: counties may adopt temporary moratoria on solar permits (limited duration, must be reasonable). Davidson County: 24-month moratorium enacted Dec 17, 2024 (expires Dec 2026) while developing new solar ordinance. Halifax County: temporary moratorium Oct 2024 — expired Feb 2025; new ordinance provisions pending. Farmland preservation concerns are the dominant local issue — NC has lost significant prime farmland to solar. Grid: SERC throughout NC. Duke Energy Progress (eastern/central), Duke Energy Carolinas (western/piedmont/mountains), Dominion Energy NC (northeastern corner). NC EMCs serve rural areas as distribution cooperatives.

NC REPS (Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard): 12.5% by 2021 (met); Duke Energy Carolina/Progress subject to ongoing carbon plan compliance (100% clean by 2050). Duke Energy CPRE (Competitive Procurement of Renewable Energy) program: ongoing solicitations. NC CPCN process for utility-owned facilities via NCUC. Community solar/Green Source Advantage: Duke Energy program for large commercial customers. Net metering under Duke Energy 'Smart Saver' program (NCUC approved 3-year glide path 2025). Property tax PILOT: county-negotiated agreements common. Utility: Duke Energy Progress (eastern/central NC); Duke Energy Carolinas (western/Piedmont NC); NCEMC and local EMCs serve rural areas.

SunEdison solar array | 20 MW | Davidson County | Duke Energy PPA | announced 2012 as one of largest US solar installations at that time | operational ~2012-2013. Duke Energy Carolinas serves Davidson County. 77 counties with utility-scale solar includes Davidson (EnergyNC 2022).

No confirmed denials on record as of Mar 2026.