SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / CA / Lassen

Lassen County, CA — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

46.1
Risk Grade
Good
Northeast California county with very low population density (~6/sq mi) and large land area (2.98M acres); remote location at end of PG&E transmission line limits interconnection capacity and developer interest; Lassen Volcanic National Park borders add sensitivity; Susanville/Susanville Indian Rancheria area has some renewable energy interest; geothermal potential co-exists with solar interest; overall viable but remote and limited pipeline
Assessment Snapshot
Population
28122
State Rank
#21
Compliance
43%
Trajectory
40

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
150 ft from occupied residences; 50 ft from property lines
Zoning Mechanism
Conditional Use Permit (CUP); CEQA review; proximity to Lassen Volcanic National Park creates sensitivity in eastern areas
Acreage Caps
None specified
Spacing Rules
None specified
Size Restrictions
Projects >500 kW require CUP

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral — remote northeastern California community; limited solar developer engagement; some interest in renewable energy for local reliability given remote grid position
Basis for Assessment
County planning records; limited public record on solar-specific hearings
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
Aaron Albaugh | R | 2026; Jeff Hemphill | R | 2028; Sherri Brennan | R | 2026; Bob Pyle | R | 2028; Tom Hammond | R | 2026

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
CAISO — PG&E Balancing Authority
Utilities
Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
State Permitting Process
County zoning + CEQA review required; CEC siting jurisdiction for projects >50 MW on state/federal land; Coastal Commission review for coastal zone; DRECP DFAs streamline desert county permitting
State Incentives
Federal ITC eligible; California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP) for storage; CA Renewables Portfolio Standard procurement; CPUC approved procurement programs

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Susanville area distributed solar; Eagle Lake corridor interest (not confirmed); limited formal utility-scale activity

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Last verified: April 2026 (web research) | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes