SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Hawkins County

Hawkins 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
Hawkins County scores C as an East Tennessee county with more viable solar terrain than deep mountain counties but with worsening anti-solar trajectory as regional organizing networks expand. Mixed industrial/rural character moderates but does not eliminate opposition risk.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
56,786
State Rank
#33
Compliance
48%
Trajectory
48

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
No county-specific solar setbacks formally adopted. State minimums apply. County planning is reviewing potential setback enhancements.
Zoning Mechanism
Hawkins County Planning Commission: CUP in Agricultural/Rural zoning; County Commission review per SB 2373 (2022). Holston Electric 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
Mixed — Holston River valley community with industrial (Eastman Chemical in neighboring Sullivan County) and agricultural heritage; East TN anti-solar trend is present but Hawkins is more moderate than deep mountain counties; some county commission members have signaled concern about large solar projects
Basis for Assessment
Hawkins County is East Tennessee's most mixed rural-industrial county; Rogersville area has some tolerance for industrial land use given Eastman Chemical proximity; however East TN anti-solar organizing is progressively influencing more moderate counties; Holston Electric Cooperative serves the area; Holston River valley provides viable siting terrain
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
County Mayor Jim Lee | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (16 members); verify at hawkinscountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Holston Electric Cooperative (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
One utility-scale pre-development inquiry in Holston River valley agricultural area; no confirmed large-scale approvals.
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