59.9

Risk Grade

Poor

Horry's C grade reflects a bifurcated risk profile: coastal tourism zone is effectively closed to utility-scale solar while inland agricultural areas around Conway and Aynor remain viable; moderate-high compliance (52) driven by CUP process, council polarization, and coastal overlay complexity; rapid population growth worsening trajectory score; four approved inland projects demonstrate viable pathway exists if sited correctly

Assessment Snapshot

Population

351029

State Rank

#28

Compliance

52%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

200 ft from residential structures in coastal overlay; 150 ft standard; 100 ft from road ROW; 75 ft from property lines

Zoning Mechanism

CUP via Horry County Planning Commission; County Council final approval; additional SCDHEC OCRM coordination for coastal-proximate parcels

Acreage Caps

None established

Spacing Rules

Not specified

Size Restrictions

Large-scale development (>50 MW) faces heightened scrutiny in coastal overlay zones

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Mixed

Basis for Assessment

Inland agricultural areas supportive; coastal resort corridor strongly resistant; county council split; tourism board opposes utility-scale solar near Grand Strand; Horry Electric Cooperative territory inland is the viable development zone; rapid coastal growth (+3.2%) is squeezing viable inland parcels

Political Risk Factors

Increasing

Board Members

County Council Chair Johnny Gardner | R | Term 2024–2028 Council Member Harold Worley | R | Term 2022–2026 Council Member Cam Crawford | R | Term 2024–2028 Council Member Gary Loftus | R | Term 2022–2026 Council Member Paul Prince | R | Term 2024–2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

SERC-SE; Dominion Energy South Carolina

Utilities

Dominion Energy South Carolina, Horry Electric Cooperative (inland rural areas)

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

Conway Solar (~40 MW, 2021, Dominion Energy SC PPA); Aynor Solar (~55 MW, 2022); Loris Solar (~35 MW, 2023); Bucksport Solar (~45 MW, 2024)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

Grand Strand Solar (80 MW, 2022, denied coastal overlay — planning commission 5-2 rejection citing tourism corridor viewshed impacts)

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Horry County County, SC — Solar Development Risk Assessment