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Custer County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

40.2
Risk Grade
Good
Remote mountain county with essentially no commercial solar interest; no framework; limited grid access in valleys; very low population
Assessment Snapshot
Population
4300
State Rank
#10
Compliance
30%
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; no solar permitting history
Acreage Caps
None established
Density Caps
None established
Spacing Rules
Not specified
Size Restrictions
General height limits

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral — extremely sparse population; no organized solar position; outdoor recreation economy indifferent to commercial solar
Basis for Assessment
Very low population; remote mountain county; economy driven by hunting, fishing, recreation, and limited ranching; Salmon River geography constrains development
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
Kathy Riehle (Chair); Mitch Stillman; Karl Hannig

Grid, Utilities & State Context

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

Development Activity

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Denied/Withdrawn Projects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

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