SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Carroll County

Carroll County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

37.1
Risk Grade
Good
Carroll County scores B reflecting a rural West Tennessee profile with minimal regulatory barriers, low saturation, and stable political trajectory. Flat terrain and agricultural land base make it viable for utility-scale development. Primary risk is potential for rapid ordinance adoption if development accelerates without community engagement.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
27,767
State Rank
#6
Compliance
32%
Trajectory
36

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
State minimums apply. No county-specific solar setbacks adopted.
Zoning Mechanism
Carroll County Planning Commission: CUP in Agricultural (A-1) zoning; County Commission review per SB 2373 (2022) for projects >5 acres.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Rural West Tennessee; low population density; farming community with interest in lease income; no organized anti-solar movement; county leadership has not taken a strong position on utility-scale solar
Basis for Assessment
Carroll County is a flat, agricultural West Tennessee county with favorable solar resource; West Tennessee EMC serves the area; declining population and limited economic alternatives make landowner lease income attractive; no history of solar controversy; county government has limited planning capacity but also limited opposition
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Mayor Joseph Sutton | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (16 members); verify at carrollcountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
West Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (TVA distributor), 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
Small commercial solar installations in the Huntingdon area; one utility-scale pre-development inquiry reported.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed denials.

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