Vermont solar permitting
Grade distribution
Overview
Every Vermont county is scored on the SitePath solar permitting index. Nearly every county are graded A or B, meaning they present low to moderate permitting risk for utility-scale solar projects.
The most favorable jurisdictions in Vermont include Washington County (grade A), Windham County (grade B), Franklin County (grade B). The most challenging include Orleans County (grade B), Caledonia County (grade B), Rutland County (grade B).
At the state level, Vermont's RPS 75% by 2032 commitment creates a supportive macro environment for solar development, though county-level boards retain significant discretion over individual project approvals. No Vermont counties currently have an active utility-scale solar moratorium.
All counties — sorted by risk score (best first)
| County | Grade | Score | Trajectory | Moratorium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | A | 27 | — | |
| Windham County | B | 30 | — | |
| Franklin County | B | 30 | — | |
| Grand Isle County | B | 30 | — | |
| Orange County | B | 30 | — | |
| Lamoille County | B | 31 | — | |
| Bennington County | B | 31 | — | |
| Windsor County | B | 33 | — | |
| Addison County | B | 33 | — | |
| Essex County | B | 35 | — | |
| Chittenden County | B | 36 | — | |
| Orleans County | B | 36 | — | |
| Caledonia County | B | 38 | — | |
| Rutland County | B | 40 | — |
See the full interactive map
County grades, scores, and ordinance data are also available on the interactive county map with filtering by grade, state, and risk factor.
Open the county map →About SitePath scoring
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.