32.8

Risk Grade

Excellent

Magic Valley solar hub with high interconnection queue activity creating saturation risk; permitting permissive but Idaho Power queue constraints are primary development hurdle

Assessment Snapshot

Population

21000

State Rank

Compliance

20%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

100 ft from occupied dwellings; 50 ft from property lines (standard CUP condition)

Zoning Mechanism

Conditional Use Permit via Minidoka County P&Z; streamlined for routine utility-scale Solar; experienced staff

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

Favorable — agricultural community deeply engaged in solar leasing; county views solar as economic asset

Basis for Assessment

One of Idaho's highest-density utility-scale solar counties; agricultural landowners active solar lessors; Magic Valley solar culture deeply embedded

Political Risk Factors

Stable

Board Members

Randy Lewis (Chair); Scott Perkins; Gary Harrison

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; FERC interconnection; Idaho Power queue constraints critical

State Incentives

Eligible — Idaho Residential Clean Energy Credit; Idaho Power net metering (IPC Order 34509)

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

None verified

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

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Minidoka County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment