36.5

Risk Grade

Good

Vast high-desert terrain with strong solar resource; functional CUP pathway; county welcomes economic development; limited grid infrastructure requires transmission investment

Assessment Snapshot

Population

12500

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 Owyhee County P&Z; economic development orientation supports solar

Acreage Caps

None established

Density Caps

None established

Spacing Rules

Not specified

Size Restrictions

20 ft height limit typical CUP condition

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Moderate to favorable — sparse population accepts economic development; ranching community open to solar co-use; county views solar as diversification

Basis for Assessment

Very large sparsely-populated high-desert county; extensive BLM land creates federal coordination layer; ranching community open to solar lease diversification

Political Risk Factors

Stable

Board Members

Lyle Bartholomew (Chair); Tim Cornie; John Warburton

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; BLM coordination for adjacent federal land projects

State Incentives

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

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Murphy Flat Solar (20 MW, 2017)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

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Owyhee County, ID — Solar Development Risk Assessment