46.5

Risk Grade

Good

Fast-growing conservative stronghold; one project denial on record; Avista territory with limited utility-scale interconnection history; political risk rising with anti-renewable rhetoric

Assessment Snapshot

Population

173000

State Rank

#14

Compliance

40%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

150 ft from residential structures typical CUP condition; 100 ft from property lines

Zoning Mechanism

Conditional Use Permit via Kootenai County Community Development; public hearings required; commission has conservative makeup

Acreage Caps

None established

Density Caps

None established

Spacing Rules

Not specified

Size Restrictions

30 ft height limit typical utility-scale CUP condition

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Mixed — large progressive population in CDA proper vs. conservative rural county; anti-utility-scale voices active; private property rights discourse dominant

Basis for Assessment

Strong in-migration from California/Western states; conservative political establishment; Coeur d'Alene City more solar-friendly than county; anti-renewable voices prominent in county commission

Political Risk Factors

Slightly Declining

Board Members

Bill Brooks (Chair); Chris Fillios; Leslie Duncan

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Avista Utilities / WECC-NWPP

Utilities

Avista Utilities, Kootenai Electric Cooperative

State Permitting Process

CUP required; state building permits; Avista interconnection

State Incentives

Eligible — Idaho Residential Clean Energy Credit; Avista net metering

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

None verified

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

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Kootenai County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment