SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / SC / Anderson County

Anderson County County, SC — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

42.2
Risk Grade
Good
Large, economically diverse upstate county; Duke Energy Carolinas active solar procurement; moderate compliance burden reflects more developed zoning code but accommodating history; multiple approved solar projects demonstrate viable pathway; suburban growth slightly elevates saturation risk
Assessment Snapshot
Population
202558
State Rank
#15
Compliance
40%
Trajectory
38

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
150 ft from residential structures; 75 ft from road ROW; 50 ft from property lines
Zoning Mechanism
CUP via Anderson County Planning Commission; County Council approval for >25 MW; public hearing required
Acreage Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
Not specified
Size Restrictions
None formal

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Supportive
Basis for Assessment
Major upstate industrial county; Duke Energy Carolinas' largest SC service territory; county council pro-economic-development; manufacturing base supportive of large energy projects; some suburban growth tension near Anderson city but rural areas cooperative
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Council Chair Tommy Dunn | R | Term 2024–2028; Council Member Cindy Wilson | R | Term 2022–2026; Council Member Craig Wooten | R | Term 2024–2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SERC-SE; Duke Energy Carolinas
Utilities
Duke Energy Carolinas, Blue Ridge Electric Cooperative
State Permitting Process
County zoning authority; no state solar preemption; special exception or conditional use permit typically required for utility-scale (>1 MW); decommissioning bond increasingly required
State Incentives
Federal ITC eligible; SC state income tax credit for solar (25% up to $35,000 for commercial); SC Energy Freedom Act net metering provisions

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Anderson Solar I (~45 MW, 2021); Palmetto Solar (~60 MW, 2022, Duke Energy Carolinas PPA); Saluda River Solar (~30 MW, 2023); Midway Solar (~75 MW, 2024)
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
None on record

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Last verified: 2026-04-02 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes