Risk Grade

Fair

Navajo Nation and Hopi tribal land dual-jurisdiction creates long approval timelines; post-Navajo Generating Station economic transition creates interest in solar but also political tension; trajectory trending toward more complexity.

Assessment Snapshot

Population

107,449

State Rank

#11

Compliance

44%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

Navajo County ZO: 150 ft from property lines for utility-scale in Agricultural zones. Tribal land requires NNLAC/BIA process with separate site-specific conditions.

Zoning Mechanism

CUP via Navajo County Planning & Zoning for non-tribal land. Navajo Nation: NNLAC surface lease + Navajo Nation Council resolution + BIA trust approval. Hopi Tribe: separate tribal council approval required.

Acreage Caps

None codified on county land.

Density Caps

None codified.

Spacing Rules

None codified.

Size Restrictions

No county restriction; tribal lease terms govern reservation land.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Conservative county board; Navajo and Hopi nations add governance complexity; declining coal economy (Navajo Generating Station closed 2019) creates interest in solar as economic replacement but tribal approval timelines are long.

Basis for Assessment

Navajo County supervisors are conservative Republicans; Navajo Generating Station closure (2019) removed economic anchor; both Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe exploring solar for energy sovereignty and revenue; county government generally accommodating but tribal approvals dominate timeline for most viable sites.

Political Risk Factors

Worsening

Board Members

Navajo County Board of Supervisors: Jason Whiting (District 1) | R | 2026; Dawneen Laughter (District 2) — shared with Graham per note: David Tenney (District 2) | R | 2026; Jesse Thompson (District 3) | R | 2026.

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Arizona Public Service (APS) / Western Interconnection (WECC)

Utilities

Arizona Public Service (APS) — Pinnacle West Capital, Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA) — reservation households

State Permitting Process

Non-tribal: Navajo County CUP via Planning & Zoning and Board of Supervisors. Tribal land: NNLAC lease + Navajo Nation Council resolution + BIA trust approval (3–5 years typical). Hopi Tribal Council separate process. Arizona One-Stop Shop for non-tribal. FAA coordination.

State Incentives

No binding Arizona RPS. Federal ITC/PVTC. Arizona solar tax exemptions. Tribal sovereign tax exemptions on reservation land. USDA REAP for rural areas. Opportunity Zones in Navajo County.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

Some tribal land proposals stalled in council approval process; no formal county-level denials.

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Navajo County, AZ — Solar Development Risk Assessment