Solar permitting — Sussex County, Virginia
On file: public meetings, local news, known opposition groups.
Generally supportive Southside county; several approvals; revenue-focused BOS; medium saturation; lower friction than many peers. Permitting: A-1; 50-ft setback. Track record: denial on record — Clenera Blackwater Solar — 600 MW; Boa…
Permitting process
Local permitting pathway
A-1, Agricultural; M-1, Industrial | SUP/CUP
Setbacks & buffers
Sussex County-specific SE/SUP conditions control — county-set setbacks vary from 50 ft (rural) to 300+ ft (residential adjacent). Verify current Sussex 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
None codified
Size restrictions
None codified; managed via CUP/SUP conditions
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
Organized opposition signals on record for this county — petitions, community groups, and oppositional coverage — each linked to its primary source.
- Virginia lawmakers passed big changes to energy and environment policy this year. Here’s a look. Solar
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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.
- 2025-06-10 OtherBESS
4 | Page – Minutes of October 24, 2024 Joint Public Hearing of the Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission Meeting It was noted that the Comprehensive Plan was amended in February 2022 to amend policies for solar and battery storage…
- OtherBESS
Shands Energy Center, LLC seeks a conditional permit to construct and operate a battery energy storage facility on 32.28 acres in Sussex County.
- OtherBESS
16 -409 and 34 -914/16-410 of the Zoning Ordinance, conditions may be imposed on Conditional Use Permits for utility -scale solar and battery energy storage facilities that include, but are not limited to, the following: A solar facility
- County BoardSolar
Sussex County Board considered a conditional use permit for a 394-megawatt solar energy generation facility.
- Planning CommissionSolar
Planning Commission will consider rezoning and conditional zoning application for a 500-megawatt solar project.
- Zoning BoardBESS
Sussex County, Virginia to amend zoning ordinance to regulate accessory battery energy storage projects
- Planning CommissionSolar
Sussex County Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission considered revisions to the Solar Farm Ordinance.
- Utility BoardBESS
Blackwater Solar LLC re-submitted its Conditional Use Permit application for a proposed Solar and Battery Storage Facility in Sussex County.
- OtherSolar
The Board of Supervisors discussed whether to hold joint or separate public hearings for solar-related conditional use permit applications.
- County BoardSolar
Action, if any 4.02 Big Pine Solar Project Siting Agreement A.
- County BoardSolar
The time and place of this Special Meeting is hereinafter stated, to-wit: Date/Time of Meeting: Tuesday, June 17, 2025 – 6:00 pm Place of Meeting: General District Courtroom Sussex Judicial Center 15098 Courthouse Road Sussex, Virginia 2388
- OtherBESS
Sussex County discussed a battery storage project
- County BoardBESS
The Board of Supervisors is considering a siting agreement for an energy storage facility on two parcels in Sussex County.
- Planning CommissionBESS
The Planning Commission considered a conditional use permit application for a battery energy storage facility.
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State PSC dockets P1
No tracked activity yet — coverage expands weekly.
Local news P3
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