43.1

Risk Grade

Good

Flat Sacramento Valley county with progressive governance influenced by UC Davis; Williamson Act constrains prime agricultural land but agrivoltaic dual-use research creates innovative potential pathway; PG&E territory with good interconnection capacity; growing solar farm activity on non-prime land; UC Davis agrivoltaic program could pioneer approval pathway for dual-use solar; solid emerging secondary market

Assessment Snapshot

Population

222000

State Rank

#11

Compliance

40%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

50 ft from property lines; additional setbacks from residences; agrivoltaic projects may have modified setback standards

Zoning Mechanism

CUP via Yolo County Planning Commission; Board of Supervisors final; CEQA standard review; agrivoltaic projects may qualify for modified permitting under pilot programs

Acreage Caps

None formal

Spacing Rules

Not specified; case-by-case

Size Restrictions

Williamson Act prime farmland constrained; agrivoltaic dual-use concept could open new land classes with appropriate county policy development

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Favorable; progressive county with UC Davis clean energy influence; BOS supportive of solar on non-prime land; agrivoltaic research community supportive of innovation; agricultural interests generally receptive to dual-use approaches

Basis for Assessment

Yolo County Planning Commission records; UC Davis agrivoltaic research program publications; CA Energy Commission; Williamson Act records; PG&E interconnection queue

Political Risk Factors

Progressive (UC Davis influence); solar-supportive county; agrivoltaic research creates innovative development pathway; BOS generally receptive

Board Members

Jim Provenza | D | 2026; Don Saylor | D | 2028; Gary Sandy | R | 2026; Lucas Frerichs | D | 2028; Angel Barajas | D | 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

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

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Yolo County, CA — Solar Development Risk Assessment