SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Bedford County

Bedford County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

43.4
Risk Grade
Good
Bedford County presents a moderate-B risk profile: limited formal ordinance means developer process is relatively open, but growing awareness of solar development and agricultural identity concerns could prompt ordinance adoption. Flat farmland in western portions is viable for utility-scale; eastern portions more rolling.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
49,713
State Rank
#16
Compliance
38%
Trajectory
40

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
State minimums apply: ≥150 ft from non-participating property lines; ≥300 ft from occupied dwellings. No county-specific solar setback ordinance.
Zoning Mechanism
Bedford County Board of Zoning Appeals: Special Exception or CUP in A-1 Agricultural zoning; County Commission approval for projects >20 acres under SB 2373 (2022) framework.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Rural to small-city mix (Shelbyville); farming community with moderate resistance to large land conversion; Walking Horse country creates agricultural identity politics around land use
Basis for Assessment
Bedford County is home to the Tennessee Walking Horse industry centered in Shelbyville; agricultural identity is strong but the county lacks the vocal anti-solar organizing seen in East TN mountain counties; income levels moderate; DREMC territory
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Mayor Allen Scarbrough | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (16 members); verify at bedfordcountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC), Tennessee Valley Authority (wholesale)
State Permitting Process
County zoning authority under SB 2373 (2022); no state solar preemption; conditional use permit or special exception typically required; decommissioning bond often required; setback standards increasingly codified
State Incentives
Federal ITC eligible; no Tennessee state solar tax credit; TVA Green Power Switch program available

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
No large confirmed utility-scale approvals on record as of 2026; commercial/industrial rooftop in Shelbyville area
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed denials on record.

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