SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / ID / Caribou

Caribou County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

39.5
Risk Grade
Good
Remote agricultural/mining county with no solar framework; declining population limits pressure; conservative politics create uncertainty
Assessment Snapshot
Population
7100
State Rank
#9
Compliance
35%
Trajectory
40

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
General setback requirements for rural structures
Zoning Mechanism
Conditional Use or variance via Board of County Commissioners; very limited solar processing experience
Acreage Caps
None established
Density Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
Not specified
Size Restrictions
General height limits

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral to skeptical — conservative mining/ag community; limited solar exposure; county focused on phosphate industry
Basis for Assessment
Phosphate mining economy (Monsanto/Astaris plant historically significant); conservative LDS-influenced community; limited renewable advocacy
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
Dave Burnett (Chair); Paul Gehrke; Gene Hemenway

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp East) / WECC-RMPP
Utilities
Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp East), None significant
State Permitting Process
County CUP/variance process; state building code
State Incentives
Eligible — Idaho Residential Clean Energy Credit; Rocky Mountain Power net metering

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
None verified
Denied/Withdrawn Projects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