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Solar permitting — Louisa County, Virginia

FIPS 51109

On file: public meetings, local news.

F
Louisa County, VA
Risk score 70/100 · Full scorecard →
Compliance: Very HighTrajectory: WorseningSaturation: Very High

~5,200 acres approved; approaching 3% countywide cap with 150 MW DENIED 2024. Permitting: SUP; hard 3% countywide acreage cap; very high compliance stringency. Track record: denial on record — Clenera/Amanda Lloyd proje…

Key driver: ~5,200 acres approved; approaching 3% countywide cap with 150 MW DENIED 2024. HB 711/SB 347: cap structure may be challengeable if it operates as near-total restriction rather than 'reasonable' limit. Near-term pipeline frozen by cap; long-term legal status of density caps under new framework is unresolved — monitor SCC guidance.

Permitting process

Local permitting pathway

SUP

Setbacks & buffers

S-1 Solar Overlay rezoning required for all utility-scale projects (Oct 2024); utility-scale solar removed as permitted use in A-1 Agricultural zoning (BOS vote 4-1, Jul 2024). Prior: standard SUP setback conditions applied.

Spacing requirements

Cumulative density and spacing from existing projects are major review criteria; not formally codified as minimum distances

Size restrictions

None codified per project; county manages through 3% countywide land cap

Penalties & bonding

Total: +5 | 3% county acreage cap: +5

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

No organized opposition on record for this county yet — no petition, group, or oppositional coverage tracked. Read that as nothing found, not as nothing there: absence of records is not evidence of local support.

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Energy-related meetings & dockets P1

solar · data center · bess · transmission

Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.

  • Other
    BESS

    County addresses fire threat and fiscal impact of proposed battery storage project.

  • Other
    Data Center

    To ensure responsible growth, no additional data center projects will be allowed without a Conditional Use Permit.

  • Other
    Data Center

    To ensure responsible growth, no additional data center projects will be allowed without a Conditional Use Permit.

  • Other
    Data Center

    Louisa County sold the Shannon Hill Regional Business Park to EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure.

  • Other
    Data Center

    Louisa County sold the Shannon Hill Regional Business Park to EdgeCore Digital Infrastructure.

  • Other
    Solar

    Belcher Solar LLC requested a Comprehensive Plan Amendment, Determination of Substantial Conformance, and Conditional Use Permit for a solar project.

  • Other
    Transmission

    Louisa County Board of Supervisors sent letters regarding a proposed transmission line project.

  • Other
    Solar

    The community will be assisted in transitioning to renewable energy through the Solarize Louisa campaign.

  • County Board
    BESS

    The Central Virginian to publish on December 30th and January 6th NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOUISA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Louisa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the following item(s) at 6:00 p.m., after reg

  • Other
    Data Center

    Data center project not intended to provide power to Louisa County, but rather to meet demand in other areas.

  • Other
    Solar

    Amendments to Land Development Regulations to increase minimum megawatts for solar generation facilities

  • Other
    Transmission

    The Board of Supervisors approved a motion to develop a resolution opposing the Valley Link Transmission Project with overhead lines.

  • Other
    Solar

    Louisa County to increase solar generation cap from 15kW to 30kW and modify solar facility regulations

  • Other
    BESS

    The Central Virginian to publish on December 30th and January 6th NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING LOUISA COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS The Louisa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the following item(s) at 6:00 p.m., after reg

  • Other
    Solar

    Planning Commission recommends approval of amendments for utility-scale solar generation facilities

  • Other
    Solar

    Public Hearing - CUP2021-03 Aura Power Solar (USA), LLC, Applicant; Robert Moore, Agent; Mine & Hammer L.C.

  • Other
    Solar

    The Louisa County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit for a Solar Generation Facility.

  • Other
    Solar

    Public Hearing - CUP2021-03 Aura Power Solar (USA), LLC, Applicant; Robert Moore, Agent; Mine & Hammer L.C.

  • Other
    Data Center

    To ensure responsible growth, no additional data center projects will be allowed without a Conditional Use Permit.

  • Utility Board
    BESS

    The Board discussed the requirements for a proposed battery storage project, including fire safety measures.

  • Planning Commission
    Solar

    Conditional use permit requested for a solar generation facility in Louisa County

  • Other
    Solar

    The Planning Commission recommends approval of amendments to the zoning ordinance for utility-scale solar generation facilities.

  • Other
    Data Center

    Data center project not intended to provide power to Louisa County, but rather to meet demand in other areas.

  • Zoning Board
    Solar

    Planning Commission discussed application requirements for utility-scale solar generation facilities

  • Other
    Solar

    Skip to Main Content Search Home Government County Office Departments A - F Community Development Planning & Zoning Land Use Solar Projects Solar Projects The below video is intended to inform the public and applicants of the solar applicat

  • Other
    Solar

    Land Development Regulations – Definitions, and Requirements for Conditional Use Permits and Solar Generation Facilities Amendments to Chapter 86.

  • Other
    Solar

    Skip to Main Content Search Home Government County Office Departments A - F Community Development Planning & Zoning Land Use Land Use Project Application Database Projects in Planning Commission Hearing Phase Green Boot Solar Project Green

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 2026-10-08. See the county risk scorecard or the full Virginia permitting index.