SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Franklin County

Franklin County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

44.3
Risk Grade
Good
Franklin County scores B as a south-central Tennessee county with a functional but not restrictive solar ordinance, moderate compliance stringency, stable political trajectory, and viable agricultural land. The risk profile is typical of a rural Middle Tennessee county that has proactively but reasonably formalized its solar review process.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
43,929
State Rank
#18
Compliance
40%
Trajectory
40

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
300 ft from occupied dwellings; 150 ft from non-participating property lines; 50 ft from public roads. Standard framework without aggressive enhancements.
Zoning Mechanism
Franklin County Planning Commission: CUP in Agricultural (A-1) zoning; County Commission approval required; decommissioning bond required; public hearing per SB 2373 (2022). Winchester Utilities coordinates on local distribution.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Moderate-positive — south-central Tennessee community with agricultural identity; Winchester area has modest industrial base; no significant organized opposition to utility-scale solar; DREMC territory in rural areas
Basis for Assessment
Franklin County has a functional CUP ordinance and has processed solar projects without significant controversy; south-central Tennessee location provides decent solar resource; rolling terrain with valley agricultural land viable for utility-scale; county has not developed organized anti-solar opposition; Duck River EMC and Winchester Utilities distribute TVA power
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Mayor Mike Moore | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (14 members); verify at franklincountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Duck River Electric Membership Corporation (DREMC), Winchester Utilities / 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
Winchester Solar Project (approximately 35 MW, Franklin County agricultural area) | Approved 2023 | Operating Additional pre-development inquiries reported
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