SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / TN / Hickman County

Hickman County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

44.9
Risk Grade
Good
Hickman County scores B as a stable rural Middle Tennessee county with minimal regulatory barriers and viable agricultural land for utility-scale solar. Some Nashville exurban creep in the eastern part of the county adds modest worsening trajectory but has not yet reached anti-solar organizing levels.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
25,178
State Rank
#20
Compliance
38%
Trajectory
40

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
State minimums apply. No county-specific solar setbacks adopted.
Zoning Mechanism
Hickman County Planning Commission: CUP in Agricultural 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
Moderate — rural Middle Tennessee community; some Nashville exurban influence but primarily agricultural; Duck River corridor creates some scenic identity but no organized solar opposition; MTE and Duck River EMC serve the county
Basis for Assessment
Hickman County is a rural Middle Tennessee county with rolling to flat agricultural terrain in its western portions; Nashville metropolitan influence has not yet converted most of the county to suburban development; Middle Tennessee Electric and Duck River EMC distribute TVA power; stable community with no significant solar controversy; income levels moderate for a rural Middle TN county
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Mayor Carey Hensley | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (16 members); verify at hickmancountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation (MTE), Duck River Electric Membership Corporation / 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 project in pre-development near Centerville agricultural area.
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