SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Greene County

Greene County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

53
Risk Grade
Fair
Greene County scores C as an East Tennessee county with more viable solar land than deep mountain counties but with worsening anti-solar political trajectory and a developing ordinance review process. The operating projects demonstrate feasibility but the political trajectory has deteriorated since those approvals.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
69,069
State Rank
#33
Compliance
48%
Trajectory
50

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
No county-specific solar setbacks formally adopted. State minimums apply. County planning commission has discussed 500 ft residential setbacks.
Zoning Mechanism
Greene County Planning Commission: CUP in Agricultural (A-1) zoning; County Commission approval per SB 2373 (2022). Greene County Electric System coordinates on distribution interconnection.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed — Greeneville area community has a mix of industrial heritage (Unilever plant area) and East Tennessee rural character; some anti-solar organizing present in rural precincts but county seat more moderate; trajectory worsening as East TN network influence grows
Basis for Assessment
Greene County has more valley agricultural land than deep mountain East Tennessee counties, making it more viable for utility-scale solar than Blount or Carter; however, East Tennessee anti-solar organizing networks are active, and the county commission is monitoring neighboring county ordinance adoptions closely; Greene County Electric System distributes TVA power
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
County Mayor Kevin Morrison | R | Aug 2026 Commission Chair; verify full commission at greenecountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Greene County Electric System (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
Greene County Solar (approximately 50 MW, Nolichucky River valley agricultural area) | Approved 2022 | Operating Additional pre-development inquiries
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
One proposed project was withdrawn after community opposition near a residential area; no formal denial recorded.

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