SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / CO / La Plata

La Plata County, CO — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

42.2
Risk Grade
Good
Mixed terrain limits large footprints; moderate complexity zoning; growing county but some opposition to utility-scale on ag land
Assessment Snapshot
Population
56221
State Rank
#34
Compliance
48%
Trajectory
46

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
150 ft from property line for large-scale
Zoning Mechanism
Special Use Permit (county planning)
Acreage Caps
No formal cap
Density Caps
No
Spacing Rules
None specified
Size Restrictions
<50 MW county SUP; >50 MW CEO review

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed — Durango progressive; rural areas more cautious about land use
Basis for Assessment
La Plata County Planning records; Durango Herald coverage
Political Risk Factors
Neutral
Board Members
Marsha Porter-Norton (D, 2026) | Juliet Bonnell (D, 2027) | Matt Salka (R, 2026)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
La Plata Electric Association / WECC
Utilities
La Plata Electric Association
State Permitting Process
County zoning; HB 23-1232 CEO review >50 MW; decommissioning bond required
State Incentives
Federal ITC; Colorado Clean Energy Fund; Xcel RE procurement programs

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
La Plata Solar I (~5 MW, 2021); smaller rooftop/ag systems
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
None on record

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