33.8

Risk Grade

Excellent

San Luis Valley high-altitude plateau with highest solar irradiance in Colorado; permissive county zoning; low density; Xcel territory; notable solar development already underway

Assessment Snapshot

Population

11982

State Rank

#17

Compliance

38%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

None codified

Zoning Mechanism

Administrative Permit / County Review

Acreage Caps

No cap

Density Caps

Size Restrictions

No size restrictions under 50 MW

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Supportive — San Luis Valley solar community; solar accepted as economic development

Basis for Assessment

Rio Grande SUN coverage; county planning records; SLV solar development history

Political Risk Factors

Improving

Board Members

John Noffsker (R, 2026) | Gene Glover (R, 2027) | Tyler Day (R, 2026)

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Xcel Energy (PSCO) / San Isabel Electric / WECC

Utilities

Xcel Energy (PSCO), San Isabel Electric Cooperative

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

Monte Vista Solar (~12 MW, 2020); SLV Solar III (~25 MW, 2022); smaller ag-adjacent permits

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

None on record

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Rio Grande County, CO — Solar Development Risk Assessment