44.2

Risk Grade

Good

Major coal mining and power plant community transitioning post-closure; landscape suitable for solar/wind but community identity tied to fossil fuels; uncertain political trajectory

Assessment Snapshot

Population

13285

State Rank

#38

Compliance

45%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

None codified for solar

Zoning Mechanism

County Zoning / Administrative Review

Acreage Caps

No cap

Density Caps

Size Restrictions

No size restrictions under 50 MW

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Mixed — coal workforce concerned about transition; some interest in solar/wind for post-coal economy

Basis for Assessment

Craig Daily Press; Northwest CO Council of Governments; coal transition studies

Political Risk Factors

Neutral

Board Members

Don Cook (R, 2026) | Ray Beck (R, 2027) | John Kinkaid (R, 2026)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Yampa Valley Electric Association / WECC

Utilities

Yampa Valley 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

Craig Station area solar study project (~2 MW, 2024)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

None on record

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Moffat County, CO — Solar Development Risk Assessment