SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / SC / Greenwood County

Greenwood County County, SC — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

42.8
Risk Grade
Good
Greenwood earns upper-B grade reflecting moderate compliance (CUP required but straightforward), low-moderate saturation, and stable political trajectory; former textile economy creates pro-development culture receptive to solar land leases; two approved projects demonstrate viable pathway without friction
Assessment Snapshot
Population
70264
State Rank
#16
Compliance
42%
Trajectory
40

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 Greenwood County Planning Commission; County Council final approval for >10 MW
Acreage Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
Not specified
Size Restrictions
None formal

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Supportive
Basis for Assessment
County council and economic development board view solar as job-creator on former textile mill parcels; Duke Energy Carolinas active PPA partner; rural fringes have sufficient agricultural land; planning commission experienced; low saturation leaves substantial capacity
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Council Chair Bob Wardlaw | R | Term 2024–2028 Council Member Edith Childs | D | Term 2022–2026 Council Member Steve Brown | R | Term 2024–2028 Council Member Thomas Moore | R | Term 2022–2026

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SERC-SE; Duke Energy Carolinas
Utilities
Duke Energy Carolinas, Laurens Electric Cooperative (county margins)
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
Greenwood Solar Farm (~30 MW, 2021, Duke Energy Carolinas PPA); Ninety Six Solar (~22 MW, 2023)
Denied/Withdrawn Projects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