Powell County
Powell County, Kentucky: solar permitting grade D (score 57/100, High Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | D · High Risk · Score 57/100 |
| Population | 12,262 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Worsening (ordinance direction tightening) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Powell County is a high-risk jurisdiction for utility-scale solar — documented ordinance hurdles are significant and approval history is mixed or unfavorable. Kentucky's state policy environment adds headwinds — the absence of a strong RPS framework means county-level resistance faces less counterbalancing pressure.
Local intel
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Nearby counties where SitePath is tracking energy activity: Clark County (≈21 mi) · Morgan County (≈32 mi) · Bourbon County (≈34 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Powell County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Clay City city
- Stanton city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Estill County · ≈11 miD57—
- Lee County · ≈15 miD58—
- Menifee County · ≈16 miD58—
- Montgomery County · ≈16 miC44—
- Wolfe County · ≈19 miD58—
- Clark County · ≈21 miC48—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Powell County ranks #86 of 120 ranked Kentucky counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Kentucky: Jefferson County (B · 31), Woodford County (B · 36), Franklin County (B · 36). See all Kentucky county grades →
Want the full record?
Setback distances, board vote histories, source documents, and ordinance amendments are available in the full county profile. The map is free; a walkthrough shows you the underlying record.
About this score
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
Related reading
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.