Risk Grade

Poor

South Carolina's largest metro county; limited utility-scale land, coastal regulatory overlay, affluent opposition, and limited saturation headroom drive C grade; viable projects exist in rural western portions (Adams Run, Hollywood areas) but risk of denial and appeal is meaningful

Assessment Snapshot

Population

408235

State Rank

#27

Compliance

52%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

200 ft from residential; 100 ft from road ROW; coastal setbacks per SCDHEC OCRM; conservation overlay areas excluded

Zoning Mechanism

CUP via Charleston County Board of Zoning Appeals or Planning Commission; County Council final; SCDHEC OCRM coordination for coastal-adjacent parcels

Acreage Caps

No formal cap but available utility-scale parcels effectively limited by density and overlays

Density Caps

None formal

Spacing Rules

Not specified

Size Restrictions

Ground-mounted restricted in OCRM overlay and conservation areas

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Mixed

Basis for Assessment

Major SC coastal metro with strong tourism and real estate economy; affluent communities oppose utility-scale solar near residential and scenic areas; conservation groups active; limited agricultural land available; county council faces competing economic and environmental pressures

Political Risk Factors

Worsening

Board Members

County Council Chair Teddie Pryor | D | Term 2024–2028; Council Member Jenny Honeycutt | R | Term 2022–2026; Council Member Rob Wehrman | D | Term 2024–2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

SERC-SE; Dominion Energy South Carolina

Utilities

Dominion Energy South Carolina, Berkeley 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

Ravenel Solar (~20 MW, 2021); Adams Run Solar (~35 MW, 2022); Hollywood Solar (~25 MW, 2023)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

James Island Solar (denied 2023, ~10 MW — residential proximity and OCRM concerns)

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Charleston County County, SC — Solar Development Risk Assessment