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Lee County County, SC — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

33.2
Risk Grade
Excellent
Lee County earns a solid B reflecting genuine rural-favorable conditions: low compliance (CUP pro forma), low saturation, flat terrain, and a county council that actively recruits solar investment; primary constraint is very limited tax base and infrastructure, but the regulatory environment is highly accessible
Assessment Snapshot
Population
15460
State Rank
#2
Compliance
32%
Trajectory
32

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
150 ft from residential structures; 50 ft from road ROW; 50 ft from property lines
Zoning Mechanism
CUP via Lee County Planning Board; County Council approval for >5 MW
Acreage Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
Not specified
Size Restrictions
None formal

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Supportive
Basis for Assessment
Economically distressed rural county; landowners eager for solar lease income as farming margins shrink; county board views solar as one of few economic development tools available; Duke Energy Progress active PPA partner; flat Coastal Plain terrain ideal; two operating projects confirm viable pathway
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Council Chair Jimmy Dubose | R | Term 2024–2028 Council Member Jackie Miles | D | Term 2022–2026 Council Member Carl Kelly | R | Term 2024–2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SERC-SE; Duke Energy Progress
Utilities
Duke Energy Progress, Lynches River 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
Bishopville Solar (~40 MW, 2021, Duke Energy Progress PPA); Lee County Solar (~30 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Denied/Withdrawn Projects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