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Solar permitting — Botetourt County, Virginia

FIPS 51023

On file: public meetings, local news, known opposition groups.

D
Botetourt County, VA
Risk score 61/100 · Full scorecard →
Compliance: ModerateTrajectory: StableSaturation: Moderate

Standard SUP pathway; Western VA rural county adjacent to Roanoke metro; moderate siting friction. Permitting: A-1; 50-ft setback. Track record: Multiple CUP approvals 2019–2024. Political environment: Republican majority; key superv…

Permitting process

Local permitting pathway

A-1, Agricultural | SUP

Setbacks & buffers

Botetourt County-specific SE/SUP conditions control — county-set setbacks vary from 50 ft (rural) to 300+ ft (residential adjacent). Verify current Botetourt County zoning ordinance for adopted local setback standards. — NOTE: the distances above are a STATE-level fallback, not a figure read from this county's own ordinance. We hold siting-rule records for this county which may include a stricter local limit we have not yet extracted. Verify against the county's own ordinance before relying on these.

Spacing requirements

None codified

Size restrictions

None codified

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.

Full permitting requirements

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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 / Dominion Energy Virginia (DEV) transmission zone

Full state policy & grid detail

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Battery storage (BESS) P1 State-Default Permitting

Standalone BESS (not co-located with approved solar): still requires county SE/SUP and host siting agreement

Local BESS ordinances & bylaws

County-level battery-storage status, safety requirements, and projects — each linked to a primary source.

Community opposition P1

Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.

SitePath maintains the most complete community-opposition dataset available, refreshed continuously from primary sources.

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Energy-related meetings & dockets P1

wind · solar · data center · bess · transmission

Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.

  • 2026-02-09 Other
    Solar

    A proposed utility-scale solar facility on a 53-acre parcel south of Fincastle was discussed.

  • 2026-01-29 Planning Commission
    Transmission

    Pike Fleet will stage vehicles for electric transmission and distribution services at this location.

  • 2025-10-28 County Board
    Solar

    A resident expressed opposition to a proposed solar farm on Springwood Road due to environmental concerns.

  • 2025-07-22 County Board
    BESS

    Awaiting plan resubmittal for the Gateway Grid Battery Storage project.

  • 2025-01-28 County Board
    BESS

    Keri Martell supports Revenue Sharing in lieu of taxation for Battery Storage facility

  • 2024-09-24 County Board
    BESS

    Consideration of advertising an ordinance for battery storage facilities in lieu of taxation

  • 2024-07-23 County Board
    Solar

    Residents expressed opposition to a solar farm development in their area.

  • 2024-03-26 County Board
    Wind

    County officials discuss potential tax implications of idling wind turbines in a wind project.

  • 2023-05-23 County Board
    Solar

    Proposed text amendments to the zoning ordinance to permit various types of solar energy facilities.

  • 2023-05-08 Other
    Solar

    The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors proposes text amendments to the zoning ordinance to permit various types of solar energy facilities.

  • 2023-01-24 County Board
    Wind

    APEX Wind Farm plans are being reviewed and resubmitted in response to county comments.

  • 2022-10-25 County Board
    BESS

    Authorization to review amendments to incorporate solar energy generating and battery storage facilities into the zoning ordinance.

  • 2022-03-22 County Board
    Wind

    Apex Clean Energy's wind project was criticized for lack of compliance with county requests for information.

  • 2022-02-22 County Board
    Wind

    APEX Wind Farm plats are currently under review.

  • 2021-10-12 Other
    Wind

    Discussion of natural resources required for a wind project

  • 2021-06-22 Other
    Wind

    Public hearing on the Rocky Forge wind farm project

  • 2021-05-25 Other
    BESS

    Energy storage systems less than 150 megawatts are now considered partially taxable.

  • 2021-01-26 Other
    Wind

    Moriah Road in Eagle Rock stated that he is present to keep the Board informed of the Rocky Forge wind farm project.

  • 2020-11-24 County Board
    Wind

    Planning Commission discussed a wind farm project and expressed concerns about the permit approval process.

  • 2018-06-05 Other
    Data Center

    The Botetourt County Planning Commission voted to approve a data center project with SCC approval

  • County Board
    Data Center

    County discussed ongoing projects including data center expansion, vehicle purchases, and facility renovations.

  • Other
    Data Center

    Planning Commission voted to ask the Board of Supervisors to organize a public forum for the proposed Google data center campus

  • Other
    Solar

    Botetourt County's zoning ordinance outlines differences between small solar systems and large commercial solar farms.

  • Other
    Data Center

    Planning Commission discussed the proposed infrastructure for a Google data center and confirmed the water authority's design standards.

  • County Board
    Wind

    APEX Wind Farm plans are awaiting resubmittal after fourth review comments were sent to Botetourt County.

  • Other
    Data Center

    The Botetourt County Board of Supervisors proposed a text amendment to the Zoning Ordinance to incorporate data center uses in the Research and Advanced Manufacturing Use District.

  • Other
    Solar

    Botetourt County's zoning ordinance outlines differences between small solar systems and large commercial solar farms.

More energy-related meetings

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State PSC dockets P1

No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.

Local news P3

More news items

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Data sources: public agendas/minutes from local government sites; PSC dockets from state regulators; news from GDELT and curated RSS. Last refreshed 2026-10-11. See the county risk scorecard or the full Virginia permitting index.