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Jackson County County, TN — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

54.4
Risk Grade
Fair
Jackson County scores C due to the combination of rolling plateau terrain limiting viable solar sites, worsening Upper Cumberland county anti-solar trajectory, and extremely high uncertainty from minimal planning capacity and small county government volatility.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
11,786
State Rank
#35
Compliance
45%
Trajectory
48

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
State minimums apply. No county-specific solar setbacks codified.
Zoning Mechanism
Jackson County (very limited planning capacity): CUP in Agricultural/Rural zoning per SB 2373 (2022). Minimal planning staff; ad hoc review process.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral-leaning resistant — Upper Cumberland rural community; Cordell Hull Lake area has recreation/scenic identity; rolling plateau terrain limits viable sites; worsening trajectory as Upper Cumberland counties watch neighboring counties develop ordinances
Basis for Assessment
Jackson County is extremely rural and sparsely populated; Upper Cumberland Electric serves the area; rolling plateau and lakeside terrain limits flat sites for large solar installations; the county has minimal planning capacity and extremely limited experience with utility-scale energy development; high uncertainty (55) reflects the very small county government's unpredictable response to development pressure
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
County Mayor Randy Roper | R | Aug 2026 County Commission (12 members); verify at jacksoncountytn.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
TVA (Tennessee Valley Authority)
Utilities
Upper Cumberland 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
No confirmed utility-scale solar approvals in Jackson County.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed denials; no meaningful developer activity.

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