42.8

Risk Grade

Good

Western slope county with some flat land suitable for solar; Tri-State G&T territory creates grid complexity; moderate county regulation; growing but conservative community

Assessment Snapshot

Population

47471

State Rank

#36

Compliance

48%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

150 ft from non-participating residences

Zoning Mechanism

Special Use Permit (county planning)

Acreage Caps

No formal cap

Density Caps

Spacing Rules

None specified

Size Restrictions

<50 MW county SUP; >50 MW CEO review

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral — western slope agricultural county; some interest in economic development via solar

Basis for Assessment

Montrose Daily Press; county planning records

Political Risk Factors

Neutral

Board Members

Sue Hansen (R, 2026) | Roger Sherman (R, 2027) | Keith Meinert (R, 2026)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Tri-State G&T / WECC

Utilities

Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Delta-Montrose 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

Horsefly Solar (~8 MW, 2023)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

None on record

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Montrose County, CO — Solar Development Risk Assessment