SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / ID / Benewah

Benewah County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

47.2
Risk Grade
Fair
Northern panhandle timber economy; no development history; declining population reduces pressure; conservative land use values
Assessment Snapshot
Population
9500
State Rank
#15
Compliance
35%
Trajectory
45

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
General setback requirements for rural structures
Zoning Mechanism
Conditional Use or variance through county; limited institutional experience with solar projects
Acreage Caps
None established
Density Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
Not specified
Size Restrictions
General height limits apply

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral to skeptical — timber-dependent community; concerns about land use change and visual impact
Basis for Assessment
Timber economy dominant; conservative rural values; limited renewable energy advocacy; declining population
Political Risk Factors
Declining
Board Members
Ron Clemons (Chair); Nancy Mader; David Fraser

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Avista Utilities / WECC-NWPP
Utilities
Avista Utilities, Clearwater Power Company (portions)
State Permitting Process
County CUP/variance process; state building code
State Incentives
Eligible — Idaho Residential Clean Energy Credit; Avista net metering

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
None on record
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
0

Explore the Full Tracker

View risk assessments for all 3,100+ US counties, compare states, and download detailed ordinance data for your solar development pipeline.

Launch SolarRisk Tracker

Last verified: April 2026 (web research) | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes