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Board asks Planning Commission to draft zoning rules for on‑site power generation, including small modular reactors
Summary
Staff asked the Board to have the Planning Commission prepare zoning text amendments to allow on‑site power generation in industrial districts (with accessory generation permitted up to a threshold and export only by conditional use); the Board unanimously referred the effort to the Planning Commission.
County Administrator Karl R. Carter and County Attorney E.M. Wright told the Board Feb. 9 that the county should update its zoning ordinance to address on‑site power generation in industrial districts, including language that recognizes small modular reactors (SMRs) while remaining generally technology neutral.
Staff recommended two primary approaches: 1) limit siting to existing and planned industrial zoning districts that have suitable infrastructure (water, transmission lines, rail, separation from residential areas); and 2) create two use categories in the ordinance — accessory on‑site generation serving an on‑site industrial load up to a defined capacity (allowed by right and subject to performance standards), and on‑site generation that exports power off site treated as a principal use requiring conditional use review.
Supervisor Michael E. Palmore moved and Vice‑Chair L. Cameron Gilliam seconded a referral to the Planning Commission to draft the zoning text amendments; the Board approved the motion unanimously. Carter said the change is intended to provide clearer local rules so the county can evaluate future energy projects consistently as applications arrive.
Separately, County Attorney Wright flagged pending General Assembly activity on solar generation siting. Staff said they will also work with zoning to tighten local solar policy and bring proposed ordinance language back to the Board for review.
What happens next: Planning Commission staff will prepare draft zoning text amendments and return them to the Board with a recommendation; additional public hearings and ordinance adoption would be required to change the zoning code.
