Solar permitting — Louisa County, Virginia
16 indexed meetings (15 energy-related), 18 news items.
~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.
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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
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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. Absence of opposition is a positive siting signal.
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
Halo color = sentiment of the relevant agenda excerpt: green positive, yellow neutral, red negative.
- OtherBESS
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- OtherData Center
The Board of Supervisors approved a Conditional Use Permit for a data center project in an industrially zoned area.
- OtherSolar
The Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- OtherTransmission
The Board approved a motion to develop a resolution regarding Valley Link Transmission Project with overhead lines.
- OtherTransmission
The Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm in Louisa County.
- OtherBESS
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the conditional use permit for Two Oaks Solar, LLC's proposed solar farm.
- OtherSolar
The Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit request for an 80 MW solar farm in Louisa County.
- OtherSolar
The Louisa County Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit for an Energix Aditya solar generation facility.
- Zoning BoardData Center
The Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- County BoardBESS
The Louisa County Planning Commission voted to approve a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm.
- OtherSolar
The Louisa County Planning Commission voted to deny a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm.
- OtherSolar
The Planning Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit application for a utility scale solar project.
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State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
- 2026-06-11 From Tech Glitches To Unanswered Emails Residents Cite Communication Gaps In Valley Link Transmission Line Project
- 2026-06-04 What We Know And Dont Know About Data Center Water Discharge In Virginia
- 2026-06-01 Whats In The Water What We Know And Dont Know About Data Center Water Discharge
- 2026-05-27 Uss Gerald R Ford Will Power Naval Station Norfolk This Summer
- 2026-03-25 Orange Community Members Pack Board Meeting Oppose Proposed 1 Billion Transmission Line
- 2026-03-12 Va S Data Center Boom Shows How Hard It Is For Lawmakers To Rein In Industry
- 2026-03-12 Massive Power Transmission Line Planned For Campbell To Culpeper
- 2026-03-05 Valley Link Seeks Community Input On Proposed Transmission Line Route Through Central Virginia
- 2026-02-02 Why Data Center Development Is Moving To New Markets
- 2025-12-12 Large Solar Farms Virginia Produce 102206332
- 2025-12-04 Virginia Grapples With How Address Data Center Growth Ahead Legislative Session
- 2025-11-24 Commentary Neighbors Deserve Data Center Transparency Assurances
- 2025-11-19 National View Neighbors Deserve Data Center Transparency Assurances
- 2025-10-13 Currents Energy Industry Insights V 9 8782411
- 2025-08-27 Report Richmond Leads Nation In Data Center Growth
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