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Solar permitting — Goochland County, Virginia

FIPS 51075

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

C
Goochland County, VA
Risk score 46/100 · Full scorecard →
Compliance: ModerateTrajectory: StableSaturation: High

SUP pathway; west-of-Richmond exurban context; some applications reviewed; moderate friction. Permitting: A-1; 50-ft setback. Track record: Multiple CUP approvals 2018–2024. Political environment: Republican majority; key supervisors…

Permitting process

Local permitting pathway

A-1, Agricultural | SUP

Setbacks & buffers

100 ft from public roads

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.

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Energy-related meetings & dockets P1

data center · solar · transmission

Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.

  • Planning Commission
    Solar

    Conditional Use Permit application filed for a solar farm on Martin Road

  • Other
    Data Center

    Data center. A facility used primarily for storage, management, processing, and transmission of facts and information in digital form, which houses computer and network equipment, systems, servers, appliances and other associated components

  • Zoning Board
    Solar

    Department of Community Development Planning and Zoning 2016 2015 % of Change 6 3 100.0% 3 3 0.0% 1 2 -50.0% 2 3 -33.3% Zoning Violations 20 13 53.8% Rezoning/Proffer Requests Certificate of Approval Ordinance Amendments 1st Quarter (Calend

  • Other
    Data Center

    Goochland County discussed a data center project

  • School Board
    Data Center

    Goochland County discussed a data center project

  • Other
    Transmission

    15-287 P Utility – gas transmission line, compressor station, measurement station, regulator station CUP Utility distribution facility, public , and all accompanying appurtenances and structures P Utility transmission substation; transmissi

  • Planning Commission
    Data Center

    Added parking requirements for industrial uses: airport, asphalt or concrete mixing plant, automobile storage lot, cabinetmaking furniture or upholstery shop, commercial kitchen catering, composting facility, contractor equipment storage…

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 2026-10-07. See the county risk scorecard or the full Virginia permitting index.