51.2

Risk Grade

Fair

Box canyon terrain eliminates virtually all utility-scale solar sites; strong tourism identity creates opposition to industrial-scale infrastructure; Tri-State territory with limited grid capacity

Assessment Snapshot

Population

4952

State Rank

#45

Compliance

52%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

None formally codified; scenic standards apply

Zoning Mechanism

County Review / Discretionary Approval

Acreage Caps

N/A — terrain prohibits utility-scale

Density Caps

Size Restrictions

No formal cap; terrain and scenic constraints effectively limit

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Protective — 'City of Lights' mountain tourism economy prioritizes scenic preservation

Basis for Assessment

Ouray County Plaindealer; county planning records; tourism board statements

Political Risk Factors

Worsening

Board Members

Jake Niece (R, 2026) | Ben SanClement (R, 2027) | Connie Hunt (R, 2026)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Tri-State Generation and Transmission / WECC

Utilities

Tri-State Generation and Transmission

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

None on record

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

None on record

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Ouray County, CO — Solar Development Risk Assessment