SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Haywood County

Haywood 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
Haywood County scores B as an active West Tennessee solar county with minimal regulatory barriers, established operating projects, flat terrain, and positive community trajectory. Moderate saturation risk reflects the growing installed base, but no ordinance pressure has emerged, and the county has capacity for additional development.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
17,304
State Rank
#6
Compliance
28%
Trajectory
30

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
State minimums apply: ≥150 ft from non-participating property lines. No county-specific solar setbacks adopted.
Zoning Mechanism
Haywood County Planning Commission: CUP in A-1 Agricultural zoning; County Commission review per SB 2373 (2022) for projects >10 acres.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Positive — flat West Tennessee agricultural community with established solar history; low income makes lease revenue significant to landowners; Haywood Electric Membership Corp coordinates well with TVA on interconnection; no organized anti-solar movement
Basis for Assessment
Haywood County is one of West Tennessee's most solar-active counties; flat Mississippi embayment terrain and large contiguous agricultural parcels are excellent for utility-scale solar; Haywood Electric Membership Corp distributes TVA power; low income (~$40K median) makes solar lease income relatively important to landowners; the community has normalized utility-scale solar as a compatible land use
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Mayor David Graham | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (14 members); verify at haywoodcountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Haywood 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
Haywood County Solar Farm (approximately 100 MW, Brownsville area agricultural land) | Operating since 2021 Additional projects approved 2023 | In development West Tennessee rural solar cluster operating in Haywood agricultural areas
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