Solar permitting — Rockbridge County, Virginia
On file: public meetings.
Standard SUP pathway; Shenandoah Valley location with scenic sensitivity; moderate friction. Permitting: A-1; 50-ft setback. Track record: Multiple CUP approvals 2019–2023. Political environment: Republican majority; community: cauti…
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
A-1, Agricultural | SUP
Setbacks & buffers
100 ft from property lines; 100 ft from public roads (per Rockbridge County Land Development Regulations §717.00 Solar Facilities)
Spacing requirements
Scenic/historic area protections apply.
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.
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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. Read that as nothing found, not as nothing there: absence of records is not evidence of local support.
Subscriber intel Subscribers
Researched for this county and available with a subscription:
- Project track record
- Developer intelligence
- Governing board
Energy-related meetings & dockets P1
Halo color matches the energy category tagged on each meeting.
- 2026-08-17 OtherBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance regarding battery storage systems associated with solar facilities.
- 2026-05-13 Planning CommissionBESS
Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- 2026-05-11 OtherSolar
The Planning Commission voted to deny a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- 2026-04-13 OtherSolar
The Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve Warm Run Solar, LLC's appeal of the zoning administrator's decision regarding a solar farm
- 2026-04-08 Planning CommissionSolar
Board of Supervisors approved zoning text amendments for solar ordinance and Disclosure of Equitable Ownership
- 2026-02-18 OtherSolar
Rockbridge County Board of Supervisors approved a Special Exception Permit for a 3.0MW solar facility with conditions.
- 2026-02-11 Planning CommissionSolar
County of Rockbridge approved a zoning text amendment to modify the Regulations for a solar facility.
- 2026-01-14 Planning CommissionSolar
The Community Development Committee approved a proposal for a 150 MW solar farm in Rockbridge County.
- 2025-10-14 OtherSolar
Revenue Share for Solar Energy Projects ……… 25-58 26. Manufactured Homes ……………………………………………………… 26-1 27.
- 2025-08-25 OtherSolar
The Planning Commission voted to deny a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm
- 2025-04-14 OtherSolar
Revenue Share for Solar Energy Projects ……… 25-56 26. Manufactured Homes ……………………………………………………… 26-1 27.
- 2025-03-04 OtherBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance regarding battery storage systems associated with solar facilities.
- 2025-03-04 OtherBESS
Battery energy storage systems and facilities associated with solar facilities are not permitted.
- 2024-08-19 Utility BoardSolar
The Fairfield Solar Project is in the construction phase.
- 2024-07-10 OtherBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance regarding battery storage systems associated with solar facilities.
- 2023-06-14 OtherBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance regarding battery storage systems associated with solar facilities.
- 2022-05-11 OtherBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance regarding battery storage systems associated with solar facilities.
- 2022-01-18 OtherSolar
Discussion on a large scale solar project
- 2021-05-12 OtherBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a draft ordinance regarding battery storage systems associated with solar facilities.
- County BoardTransmission
The Rockbridge County Planning Commission voted to deny a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm due to concerns over privacy and property rights.
- OtherSolar
at the same location to consider the following applications: 1) CVE North America, Inc., West 27th Street, 8th floor, New York, New York, 1001 has made an application for a special exception permit to develop a 4.05-MW (AC) solar project.
- County BoardTransmission
The Board of Supervisors authorized the acquisition and acceptance of easements for a fiber optic transmission line.
- County BoardTransmission
The Board of Supervisors authorized the acquisition and acceptance of easements for a fiber optic transmission line.
- Planning CommissionTransmission
Dominion Energy's substation expansion decision was postponed
- County BoardWind
The Apex Wind Farm proposal was discussed and approved.
- County BoardTransmission
Planning Commission recommended approval of Dominion's transmission line replacement application
- OtherData Center
Planning Commission discussed the possibility of developing a data center ordinance and a battery storage ordinance.
- OtherTransmission
The Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a 115kV transmission line rebuild in Rockbridge County.
- County BoardTransmission
The Board of Supervisors authorized the acquisition and acceptance of easements for a fiber optic transmission line.
- County BoardTransmission
The Board of Supervisors authorized the acquisition and acceptance of easements for a fiber optic transmission line.
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State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
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