41.3

Risk Grade

Good

Fast-growing corridor between Phoenix and Tucson creates competing land uses; county is accommodating but residential growth pressure could tighten conditions; APS and TEP both active.

Assessment Snapshot

Population

425,264

State Rank

Compliance

35%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

Pinal County ZO: 150 ft from property lines for utility-scale in Agricultural (AG) zones. Board has discussed but not codified additional buffers from growing residential communities.

Zoning Mechanism

CUP via Pinal County Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors. County is generally accommodating but growing residential pressure near Casa Grande and Florence is creating competing land use dynamics.

Acreage Caps

None codified; board may impose conditions on large projects near residential growth areas.

Density Caps

None codified.

Spacing Rules

None codified.

Size Restrictions

No formal restriction; APS/TEP grid capacity in county is adequate for current pipeline.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Moderately supportive; pro-development board in rapidly growing county; solar seen as compatible with agricultural land transition; APS active buyer in county.

Basis for Assessment

Pinal County Board of Supervisors is Republican majority, pro-economic development; Casa Grande and Coolidge areas have active utility-scale solar market; growing residential pressure near Queen Creek/Florence creating some land-use tension but board is generally accommodating.

Political Risk Factors

Stable

Board Members

Pinal County Board of Supervisors: Jeffrey McClure (Chairman, District 1) | R | 2026; Mike Goodman (District 2) | R | 2026; Kevin Cavanaugh (District 3) | R | 2026; Jeff Serdy (District 4) | R | 2026; Stephen Miller (District 5) | R | 2026.

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Arizona Public Service (APS) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) / Western Interconnection (WECC)

Utilities

Arizona Public Service (APS) — Pinnacle West Capital (western/northern Pinal), Tucson Electric Power (TEP) — southern Pinal County (Coolidge, Florence areas)

State Permitting Process

Pinal County CUP via Planning & Zoning Commission and Board of Supervisors. Arizona One-Stop Shop. APS/TEP interconnection study. ADWR water rights (critical groundwater area rules apply). FAA coordination.

State Incentives

No binding Arizona RPS. APS and TEP renewable commitments. Federal ITC/PVTC. Arizona solar property and sales tax exemptions. Enterprise Zone incentives in industrial corridors.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

No major denials on record; some applications pending as county processes growth.

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Pinal County, AZ — Solar Development Risk Assessment