Halifax County, NC — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Expired Moratorium — temporary ban on solar SUPs, Oct 2024 – Feb 2025 (expired); county adopting tighter ordinance including proposed 1-mi buffer between facilities

Halifax County: 2019 ordinance setback details not confirmed; amendments under review. 120-day moratorium as of Oct 2024 to update ordinance. Verify current setbacks with Halifax County Planning Department after moratorium period.

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

Mixed — moratorium expired Feb 2025; new ordinance provisions developing; high solar saturation creating farmland concerns; active market

NE NC agricultural; Halifax/Roanoke Rapids area; Halifax County had temporary moratorium Oct 2024 (EXPIRED Feb 2025); active solar; high saturation; new ordinance provisions being developed; county CUP

Stable

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.

Dogwood Solar | 20 MW | Dec 2013 | Duke Energy Renewables | Operational Halifax Solar Power Project | 20 MW | Dec 2014 | Roanoke Rapids area | Duke Energy | Operational | PPA: Dominion NC Power Active construction: Pure Power Contractors building solar farm at Sand Pit Road and Old Highway 125 in Scotland Neck area (Matthew Perry, Pure Power, Oct 2024 testimony); peak construction 1-2 years from Oct 2024. Source: Duke Energy; RRSpin rrspin.com Oct 22 2024

MORATORIUM Oct 2024: 120-day moratorium approved by Board of Commissioners to review and update 2019 solar ordinance. Multiple speakers objected at Oct 2024 hearing. After moratorium: county adopted more stringent requirements for new large solar projects (Cardinal News Nov 2025). Source: RRSpin rrspin.com Oct 22 2024; Cardinal News