Orleans County, VT — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

State §248 CPG required (preempts local zoning). No county-level setbacks codified.

Vermont PUC §248 Certificate of Public Good (CPG) required; no separate county permit.

Generally receptive — agricultural; Northeast Kingdom; §248 pathway

NE VT; Newport area; Lake Memphremagog; Northeast Kingdom; agricultural; §248 CPG required; active solar

Stable

Vermont Public Utility Commission (PUC) issues Certificate of Public Good (CPG) under 30 VSA §248 for all utility-scale energy projects — Vermont has the lowest preemption threshold in the nation (effectively preempts local zoning for virtually all commercial solar). Section 248 Certificate of Public Good: required for any solar facility of sufficient scale. PUC must consider impacts on aesthetics, orderly development, wildlife, primary agricultural soils, and surrounding municipalities. 'Shocking or offensive' aesthetics standard applied by PUC. Act 174 (2016): municipalities/regions that adopt enhanced energy plans receive 'substantial deference' in §248 proceedings — key tool for local influence without blocking. Local governments cannot require separate approvals once CPG is issued, but can participate as formal parties in §248 proceedings. Vermont Agency of Agriculture reviews projects ≥50 kW on agricultural soils; must appear at hearings for projects >500 kW. ISO-NE interconnection required statewide.

Vermont RPS: 75% renewable by 2032; 90% by 2050 (Renewable Energy Standard). Group Net Metering: allows multiple accounts to share credits from a solar array. VT CEDF (Clean Energy Development Fund): grants and loans for solar projects via VDPSMR. Sustainably Priced Energy Enterprise Development (SPEED): qualifying facility program. VT Green Mountain Power (GMP) solar programs: shared solar, community resilience hubs. Act 174 (2016): municipal/regional energy plans can affect siting approvals. Utility: Green Mountain Power serves most of VT; Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) serves Northeast Kingdom; Washington Electric Coop serves Orange/Washington county area.

Multiple solar projects in Orleans County (Northeast Kingdom). Vermont Electric Cooperative (VEC) serves Orleans County. MHG Solar proposed 4.9 MW | 27 acres | Lowell, Orleans County | PUC §248 review underway; evidentiary hearing scheduled spring 2026 | PPA: Vermont Electric Co-op | actively contested (VTDigger Feb 9 2026).

MHG Solar 4.9 MW Lowell, Orleans County — under PUC §248 review Feb 2026; Lowell select board unanimously opposes (VTDigger Feb 9 2026); Lowell town residents cite town already hosting Kingdom Community Wind project; Northeast Vermont Development Association also opposes. No final PUC decision confirmed as of Mar 23 2026.