Risk Grade

Good

Mountain Home AFB provides stable economics and pragmatic governance; flat high-desert terrain suitable; functional CUP pathway; Idaho Power territory with good interconnection

Assessment Snapshot

Population

27000

State Rank

Compliance

30%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

100 ft from occupied structures; 50 ft from property lines (typical CUP condition)

Zoning Mechanism

Conditional Use Permit via Elmore County P&Z; AFB coordination for projects near Mountain Home AFB airspace

Acreage Caps

None established at county level

Density Caps

None established

Spacing Rules

Not specified

Size Restrictions

20 ft height limit typical CUP condition

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Moderate — Mountain Home AFB military community neutral-to-favorable; rural ranching community generally accepting; county receptive to economic development

Basis for Assessment

AFB drives stable economic base; conservative but pragmatic governance; southern Idaho sun belt location; several projects approved

Political Risk Factors

Stable

Board Members

Brent Reinke (Chair); Travis Manning; Jim Moorman

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Idaho Power Company (IPCO) / WECC-NWPP

Utilities

Idaho Power Company (IPCO), None significant

State Permitting Process

CUP required; state building permits; FAA/AFB coordination for airspace near Mountain Home AFB

State Incentives

Eligible — Idaho Residential Clean Energy Credit; Idaho Power net metering

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Grand View PV Solar Two (108 MW, 2016); Black Mesa Solar (40 MW, 2023); Simcoe Solar (20 MW, 2017)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

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

Elmore County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment