SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / AR / Madison

Madison County, AR — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

59.7
Risk Grade
Poor
NW Arkansas Ozarks mountainous county; Huntsville seat; organized solar opposition; significant terrain constraints; Carroll Electric cooperative; rural preservation sentiment; project withdrawal precedent; high trajectory risk
Assessment Snapshot
Population
16719
State Rank
#36
Compliance
60%
Trajectory
60

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
300 ft property line; 500 ft occupied structures; elevated local buffer
Zoning Mechanism
Conditional Use Permit (CUP) - Quorum Court/Planning Commission
Acreage Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
None established
Size Restrictions
None established

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Opposed - organized NW Arkansas Ozark preservation groups; tourism identity; landscape concerns
Basis for Assessment
County QC public meetings; Huntsville Madison County Record
Political Risk Factors
Worsening
Board Members
County Judge (R); 9-member Quorum Court - madisoncountyar.gov

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
SPP / Carroll Electric Cooperative
Utilities
Carroll Electric Cooperative, OG&E (Oklahoma Gas & Electric)
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
None approved
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
Madison County Solar Proposal (2022) - withdrawn after public opposition

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