Hood County, TX — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No specific moratorium information available.

2024 ordinance establishes setback requirements from roads, property lines, and residences [TBV — verify exact setback distances (reported as significant) via Hood County ordinance text at co.hood.tx.us].

Solar Energy Ordinance (2024) — utility-scale solar requires compliance with setback requirements and county standards; permit process through Hood County Commissioner Court [TBV — verify whether SUP/CUP required or administrative review].

Mixed-Hostile — organized community opposition to utility-scale solar in Granbury/Hood County area; 2024 ordinance reflects commissioner response to constituent pressure; Lake Granbury/scenic character concerns cited by opponents.

Granbury county seat; Oncor TDU territory; Fort Worth exurb experiencing rapid residential growth; conservative commissioner court adopted restrictive ordinance in 2024 following community opposition; Lake Granbury recreational character amplifies aesthetic/land-use concerns.

Worsening

No state siting board for solar in Texas. PUCT regulates utilities; ERCOT manages interconnection for ERCOT service territory (most of state); SPP governs Panhandle/northwest TX. County Commissioners Court governs unincorporated areas under Texas Local Government Code. Many rural TX counties have NO zoning authority — solar is essentially by-right without county approval requirement. HB 2527 (2023) requires counties with solar ordinances to provide a 'reasonable' permitting framework. No statewide preemption prevents county restrictions. ERCOT interconnection queue is severely congested — grid study delays of 2-4+ years common.

Texas has no state RPS mandate. Key incentives: Federal ITC (30% base + bonus adders for energy communities/domestic content). Property tax abatement via Chapter 312/313 successor frameworks (county-level negotiation required). ERCOT wholesale market provides strong merchant revenue stack. No state income tax benefits developer HQ decisions. USDA REAP available for rural projects.

No confirmed utility-scale solar projects approved as of Apr 2026 [TBV — verify Hood County records].

Community opposition led to ordinance adoption in 2024; no specific denied project names documented [TBV — verify Hood County Commissioner Court minutes for project-specific actions].