SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / AR / Garland

Garland County, AR — Solar Development Risk Assessment

Local solar ordinance barriers, board sentiment, and utility policies that affect development timelines and risk.

51.6
Risk Grade
Fair
Ouachita Mountains terrain severely limits viable sites; Hot Springs resort/retirement economy; scenic preservation concerns; elevated CUP scrutiny; Entergy grid limited by terrain
Assessment Snapshot
Population
100107
State Rank
#30
Compliance
55%
Trajectory
53

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
350 ft property line; 500 ft occupied structures; additional buffers near Lake Hamilton/Ouachita
Zoning Mechanism
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) - Planning Commission; public hearing required
Acreage Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
None established
Size Restrictions
None established

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed - resort tourism community; property value concerns vs. economic interest
Basis for Assessment
Planning commission minutes; Sentinel-Record (Hot Springs); Hot Springs Village Voice
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
County Judge (R); 9-member Quorum Court - garlandcounty.org

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
MISO / Entergy Arkansas
Utilities
Entergy Arkansas, Ouachita 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
Garland County Solar (20 MW, 2021); Hot Springs Solar Farm (15 MW, 2022)
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
Ouachita Mountains Solar (50 MW, 2023 - withdrawn terrain/opposition)

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Last verified: 2026-04-02 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes