Solar permitting — Nelson County, Virginia

Setbacks & buffers

Nelson County-specific SE/SUP conditions control — county-set setbacks vary from 50 ft (rural) to 300+ ft (residential adjacent). Verify current Nelson 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

Scenic corridor protections emphasized.

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.

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

• 2024-05-22 Planning Commission

  Solar

  Planning Commission to consider Wild Rose Solar Special Use Permit application

  agenda
• 2022-08-09 Zoning Board

  Solar

  Solar Energy Ordinance § 22A-1 – 22A-11 Art. 23.

  agenda
• Other

  Solar

  Amherst County's Planning Commission unanimously voted to deny a special exception request for a solar project due to view shed and environmental concerns.

  agenda
• Other

  BESS

  She then noted that they had about 90 projects in solar development and battery storage development across 27 states.

  agenda
• County Board

  BESS

  Nelson County considers siting agreements for two 4MW battery energy storage systems in Colleen and Piney River.

  agenda
• County Board

  Solar

  Planning Commission discussed a special-use permit for the Wild Rose Solar project, citing potential legal issues.

  agenda
• Other

  Solar

  Planning Commission discussed a special-use permit for the Wild Rose Solar Project in Gladstone, South District.

  agenda
• County Board

  Solar

  The Board of Supervisors discussed a large solar energy system project, Wild Rose, and its associated application and siting agreement.

  agenda
• Other

  BESS

  Nelson County discussed a utility-scale solar and battery storage development project by Savion, a subsidiary of Shell.

  agenda
• Other

  Solar

  Staff and Mr. Payne met with Savion staff and their legal team for an initial siting agreement discussion regarding the Savion/Wild Rose Solar project.

  agenda
• Other

  Solar

  Amherst County Solar Project: County Administration was advised by Amherst County of a Special Exception Request by Piney River Solar, LLC for a utility- scale project on property in Amherst County that adjoins the Virginia Blue Ridge Railw

  agenda
• County Board

  BESS

  Nelson County considers siting agreements for two 4MW battery energy storage systems.

  agenda
• Other

  Data Center

  County officials discussed the benefits of hosting a data center in Zions Crossroads to reduce network issues and traffic.

  agenda