SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Fentress County

Fentress County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

58
Risk Grade
Fair
Fentress County scores C due to plateau/mountain terrain limiting viable solar land, worsening Upper Cumberland anti-solar trajectory aligned with neighboring plateau counties, and low saturation reflecting terrain barriers rather than welcoming policy. High uncertainty reflects small county policy volatility.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
18,561
State Rank
#41
Compliance
50%
Trajectory
52

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
No county-specific solar setbacks. State minimums apply. Terrain and natural area boundaries effectively constrain viable sites.
Zoning Mechanism
Fentress County Planning Commission (limited capacity): CUP in Agricultural/Rural 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
Resistant-leaning — Upper Cumberland mountain/plateau community with outdoor recreation identity; Big South Fork area creates conservation constituency; limited economic alternatives but also limited viable solar siting terrain
Basis for Assessment
Fentress County's plateau terrain, Big South Fork proximity, and Appalachian heritage combine to create a community where utility-scale solar development faces both physical and political barriers; Cumberland Electric serves the area; the county has limited planning capacity but also limited developer interest due to terrain constraints
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
County Mayor Jimmy Johnson | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (14 members); verify at fentresscountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Cumberland 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 in Fentress County.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed denials.

Explore the Full Tracker

View risk assessments for all 3,100+ US counties, compare states, and download detailed ordinance data for your solar development pipeline.

Launch SolarRisk Tracker

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