Rappahannock County, VA — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

500-acre minimum parcel required for any solar facility. 100-acre maximum contiguous panel coverage per permit. 200-ft minimum frontage. No solar on prime farmland. 20-year maximum permit duration. Setback from property lines per standard agricultural zoning.

SE, Special Exception

Strongly resistant

§ 170-64(I) (Jul 7, 2021): ≥500-ft setback from all lot lines and roads (non-reducible by Board waiver), 500-acre minimum parcel size, 100-acre maximum contiguous panel footprint, and prohibition on prime/important agricultural soils — combination renders no qualifying sites in the county; zero applications submitted or advanced to any hearing as of Mar 2026; Board has made no public statements favoring solar development

Worsening

Local permit: Special Use Permit (SUP) or Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in A-1 Agricultural zoning; issued by Board of Supervisors (BOS) or Planning Commission per county ordinance. Counties without zoning (Buchanan, Russell, Lee, Scott, etc.) proceed via revenue-sharing siting agreements. SCC CPCN: Va. Code §56-580 (as amended by HB 1558/SB 762, eff. Jul 2021) — SCC Certificate of Public Convenience & Necessity required for generating facilities ≥5 MW; waivable for utility-owned projects under SCC-approved IRP. DEQ Permit by Rule (PBR): Required for all solar facilities ≥1 MW per Va. Code §10.1-1197.6; includes VSMP/VPDES erosion & stormwater permits. Mar 2022 DEQ rule: solar panels counted as impervious surface same as parking lots. Revenue sharing: Va. Code §15.2-2288.7 — localities may require up to $1,400/MW-year for utility-scale solar on agricultural or forestal land; increases 10% in year 1 then every 5 years thereafter. VDACS notice: VA Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services must be notified for projects converting prime agricultural or forestal land. PENDING LEGISLATION (as of Mar 11, 2026): HB 711 (Herring) / SB 347 (VanValkenburg) both cleared both chambers and await Gov. Spanberger's signature (session ends Mar 14, 2026). If signed: (1) all localities must allow solar ≥1 MW via special exception — outright bans illegal; (2) statewide setback floor: 150–200 ft non-participating dwellings, 50–100 ft from state roads, 100–250 ft from streams/wetlands, 50–75 ft from property lines; (3) localities retain denial authority but must report reasons to SCC public database; (4) companion HB 891/SB 443: BESS permitted accessory use on approved solar SE sites. Spanberger is pro-solar; signature expected. Monitor: lis.virginia.gov.

Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA, 2020): Dominion must reach 100% carbon-free by 2045; Appalachian Power by 2050; major driver of utility-scale solar procurement. Net metering: available under VCEA for systems up to 1 MW (by-right); large-scale behind-the-meter negotiated. SCC SolarShare: Dominion program offering renewable energy credits. Virtual net metering (Virginia): programs vary by utility. DEQ review: required for solar facilities ≥150 MW (permit by rule) or DEQ standalone review. Utility: Dominion Energy Virginia serves 2/3 of VA; Appalachian Power (AEP) serves western VA; Northern Virginia Electric Coop (NOVEC) serves NoVA exurbs; various rural cooperatives and municipal utilities.

No utility-scale solar projects approved under current ordinance. Restrictions effectively prohibit large-scale development (500+ acre min parcel, 100-acre panel cap). Source: Virginia Mercury Dec 2024

72-MW project (250 acres of panels on 1,500-acre site) — DENIED despite meeting ordinance requirements; board cited minor issues. Second unnamed project denied (board cited tree sizes); planning commission had recommended approval both times. Source: Virginia Mercury Dec 3 2024 (virginiamercury.com/2024/12/03)