Solar permitting — Surry County, Virginia
On file: public meetings, local news.
Hard cap: 7% countywide (~10,695 ac); Sycamore Cross DENIED 2024 citing cap proximity. Permitting: M-1; hard 7% countywide cap (~10,695 ac max); extreme compliance stringency. Track record: denial on record — Graymont…
Key driver: Hard cap: 7% countywide (~10,695 ac); Sycamore Cross DENIED 2024 citing cap proximity. HB 711/SB 347: county-wide percentage caps not explicitly addressed; cap-as-functional-ban arguments possible once threshold approached but legal outcome uncertain. Current saturation leaves limited headroom regardless.
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
M-1, M-2 | CUP
Setbacks & buffers
300-ft minimum vegetative buffer from all public rights-of-way and adjoining structures. 7% county-wide acreage cap (10,695 acres) enacted Feb 13 2025 (prior 10% / 15,278-acre cap, 2023). Former Planning Commission Chair Eddie Brock noted most localities use 2–3% caps. Source: Smithfield Times Feb 2025
Spacing requirements
≥1 mile centroid to nearest high-voltage transmission line; ≥1 mile from airports (FAA certification required)
Size restrictions
≤65% site coverage by panels; ≥10% of site acreage must be pollinator/pollinator-friendly habitat
Penalties & bonding
Total penalty: +5 (Denial +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 (Surry Nuclear Station proximity)
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Battery storage (BESS) P1 Standalone Ordinance
STANDALONE BESS ORDINANCE ADOPTED — Surry County, VA Board of Supervisors unanimously approved zoning ordinance amendment April 3 2025
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.
- 2021-04-01 County BoardSolar
The siting agreement for a solar project may include terms and conditions, including financial compensation to the host locality.
- 2021-02-22 Planning CommissionSolar
The Cavalier Solar Application was discussed and voted on by the Planning Commission.
- 2021-01-25 OtherSolar
Public hearing for the Cavalier Solar 2 project.
- 2020-07-02 OtherSolar
The Comprehensive Plan Text Amendment for the Spring Grove Solar III, LLC project was approved.
- 2020-03-05 County BoardSolar
Discussion of a solar project
- 2020-02-06 OtherSolar
Spring Grove Solar III, LLC applied for an amendment to the Surry County Comprehensive Plan to rezone a property for industrial use.
- 2018-05-03 County BoardSolar
Planning Commission discussed a solar project Conditional Use Permit application.
- Planning CommissionBESS
Planning Commission reviewed a site plan for a solar generation facility with battery storage and approved it in substantial conformity with a preliminary site plan.
- Planning CommissionBESS
IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM LOCATED AT THE SURRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 45 SCHOOL STREET, SURRY, VIRGINIA TO CONSIDER AND INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING: PC ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2024-04: The Planning Commission will consider
- Planning CommissionSolar
Surry County Comprehensive Plan amendment to designate a property as Industrial for a solar project
- Planning CommissionSolar
Surry County Comprehensive Plan amendment to designate a property as Industrial for a solar project
- OtherBESS
IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM LOCATED AT THE SURRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 45 SCHOOL STREET, SURRY, VIRGINIA TO CONSIDER AND INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING: PC ORDINANCE AMENDMENT 2024-04: The Planning Commission will consider
- OtherSolar
Planning Commission heard a public hearing request for a 240 MW solar energy facility in Surry County.
- County BoardBESS
The Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance amendment initiated by Clenera, LLC to amend the Surry County Zoning Ordinance.
- County BoardSolar
Board of Supervisors May 3, 2018 Meeting AGENDA NOTE Agenda Item: Order of Public Hearing – CUP 2018-03 and 2018-04 Spring Grove Solar, LLC I.
- Planning CommissionSolar
Planning Commission will consider and intends to take action on amendments to the Solar Energy Ordinance.
- Planning CommissionData Center
County discussed a data center project, including its facilities and infrastructure.
- Zoning BoardSolar
The Board of Supervisors directed the planning commission to hold a public hearing to consider an amendment to the County's zoning for solar photovoltaic projects.
- County BoardSolar
IN THE GENERAL DISTRICT COURTROOM LOCATED AT THE SURRY COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER 45 SCHOOL STREET, SURRY, VIRGINIA TO CONSIDER AND INTENDS TO TAKE ACTION ON THE FOLLOWING: PC Ordinance Amendment 2024-02: The Board of Supervisors will conside
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State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
Filter by grade, state, moratorium status, and compliance stringency. Compare counties side by side.