Solar permitting — Bedford County, Virginia
5 news items, 3 known opposition groups.
🟠 HIGH-FRICTION JURISDICTION (Score 62/100, Grade D, deteriorating trajectory) — OUTRIGHT BAN — utility-scale solar has no permitted pathway in county zoning code. Permitting: Utility-scale solar not permitted; 50-ft setback; hard Not applicable — county ordinance prohibits utility-scale so; very…
Key driver: OUTRIGHT BAN — utility-scale solar has no permitted pathway in county zoning code. BOS voted down proposed ordinance Mar 2022; county officials stated this will not change. CRITICAL: HB 711/SB 347 passed both chambers Mar 2026 — if signed by Spanberger, outright ban becomes ILLEGAL and Bedford must allow applications via special exception. Compliance score likely drops, risk score decreases materially once enacted.
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
Utility-scale solar not permitted (per county statements reported in media).
Setbacks & buffers
Bedford County-specific SE/SUP conditions control — county-set setbacks vary from 50 ft (rural) to 300+ ft (residential adjacent). Verify current Bedford County zoning ordinance for adopted local setback standards.
Spacing requirements
None codified
Size restrictions
Not applicable — county ordinance prohibits utility-scale solar
Penalties & bonding
No penalties or adjustments. Standard CUP/SUP process.
State-level permits & approvals
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.
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State policy & grid context
State RPS & clean energy policy
100% carbon-free by 2050 (Dominion), 2045 (APCo) | Virginia Clean Economy Act (2020) | Va. Code §56-585.5
State incentive programs
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.
Grid & interconnection
PJM / Appalachian Power (APCo) transmission zone
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Community opposition P1 3 tracked
Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.
- Bedford Imposes 'Battery Farm' Moratorium Storage
- r/Virginia on Reddit: Commentary: We suspected data centers were creating an energy crisis for Virginia. Now it’s offici Data center
- Village votes to prohibit Battery Energy Storage Systems Storage
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Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
- 🔒Project track record
- 🔒Developer intelligence
- 🔒Community & board sentiment
- 🔒Governing board
- 🔒Sentiment rollup
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
- 2026-02-14 Bedford Residents Concerned About High Power Bills
- 2026-02-09 If The World Is Getting Hotter Why On Day 14 After Paralyzing Ice Storm Does Swva Still Look Like Frozen Tundra With Wind Chills Of 0…
- 2025-11-11 Dominion Energy Seeks Its Largest Slate Of Solar And Battery Storage Projects Yet
- 2025-11-06 Dominion Energy Solar Projects
- 2025-11-06 Dominion Energy Proposes Massive Solar 151700584
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