SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Decatur County

Decatur 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
Decatur County scores B as a rural West Tennessee county with minimal ordinance barriers, very low saturation, flat terrain, and stable political trajectory. Small size limits economies of scale for the largest projects but mid-scale utility solar is feasible.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
11,663
State Rank
#6
Compliance
30%
Trajectory
35

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

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

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Very small, quiet rural West Tennessee county; minimal solar development activity; low population density; farming community with interest in lease income
Basis for Assessment
Decatur County is one of Tennessee's smallest and most rural counties; Tennessee River corridor and bottomland agriculture provide viable solar siting terrain; Southwest Tennessee EMC serves the area; declining population and limited economic alternatives make landowner lease income attractive relative to traditional agriculture; no organized opposition
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Mayor Mike Creasy | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (12 members); verify at decaturtncounty.com

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Southwest 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
No confirmed utility-scale solar approvals on record.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects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