62.8

Risk Grade

Poor

Fast-suburbanizing NW Arkansas; enhanced solar ordinance with strict setbacks; suburban encroachment reducing viable rural land; mixed political sentiment; OG&E/SPP queue timelines

Assessment Snapshot

Population

279141

State Rank

#37

Compliance

58%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

500 ft property line; 750 ft occupied structures; 1,000 ft residential subdivisions

Zoning Mechanism

Conditional Use Permit (CUP) - Planning Board; public hearing mandatory; county judge approval

Acreage Caps

None established; suburban growth constraining rural land

Density Caps

None formal

Spacing Rules

None established

Size Restrictions

No projects >50 MW without county judge approval

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Mixed - suburban growth concerns; some rural landowner support

Basis for Assessment

Planning board minutes; NW Arkansas Democrat-Gazette; ordinance development process

Political Risk Factors

Worsening

Board Members

County Judge Barry Moehring (R); 15-member Quorum Court - benton.ar.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

SPP / Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E)

Utilities

Oklahoma Gas & Electric (OG&E), Carroll Electric Cooperative

State Permitting Process

County zoning authority; Act 827 sets minimum ANRC standards; conditional use permit or special exception required; decommissioning bond required; setback minimums set by ANRC

State Incentives

Federal ITC eligible; no Arkansas state solar tax credit; Act 827 ANRC framework

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Benton County Solar (40 MW, 2021); Bentonville Solar Farm (28 MW, 2022); NW AR Solar (35 MW, 2023); Rogers Solar (20 MW, 2022); Pea Ridge Solar (15 MW, 2023)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

Centerton Solar (50 MW, 2023 - denied suburban proximity)

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Benton County, AR — Solar Development Risk Assessment