SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / MO / Saline

Saline County, MO — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

38.8
Risk Grade
Good
N Missouri agricultural; Marshall area; active solar development; no state preemption; full local CUP control
Assessment Snapshot
Population
23,349
State Rank
#9
Compliance
55%
Trajectory
52

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
None codified. No county-specific solar ordinance confirmed.
Zoning Mechanism
Saline County Commission: CUP/SUP in Agricultural district.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Generally receptive — agricultural community; Marshall area economic development interest
Basis for Assessment
N Missouri agricultural; Marshall area; active solar development; no state preemption; full local CUP control
Political Risk Factors
Stable
Board Members
Becky Plattner | R | Presiding Commissioner | Term: 2026 | Monte Fenner | R | Northern Associate Commissioner | Term: 2024 | Stephanie Gooden | R | Southern Associate Commissioner | Term: 2024

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
MISO / Ameren Missouri (AMMO) zone
Utilities
Ameren Missouri, Consolidated Electric Coop
State Permitting Process
No statewide siting authority or preemption for utility-scale solar — full local control at county level. County CUP/SUP or special use process governs all utility-scale solar regardless of size. No minimum threshold above which state takes jurisdiction. Western MO (Kansas City area) in SPP territory; eastern and central MO in MISO territory.
State Incentives
Missouri has no Renewable Portfolio Standard — legislature has repeatedly declined to enact one. Net metering: available under MO PSC Order (Ameren Missouri, Evergy — limited program). Property tax exemption for solar equipment: available. Sales tax exemption: solar equipment purchases exempt under §144.020.1(10). New MO solar property tax structure (2025): fixed $2,500/MW for projects placed in service Aug 28 2025+. CRITICAL: MO SB 849 statewide solar moratorium (passed Senate Commerce Committee Feb 10 2026; Gov. Kehoe supports; emergency clause = immediate effect upon signing) would halt all new and current solar construction through Dec 31 2027. As of Mar 23 2026: pending full Senate/House vote. Utility: Ameren Missouri serves central/eastern MO; Evergy Kansas City serves western MO; multiple rural electric cooperatives serve agricultural areas.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Marshall Solar Farm | ~20 MW | Operational | Saline County, near Marshall | Commission reviewed 1,000-acre expansion proposal 2024
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No confirmed Missouri PSC denials for Saline County. SB 849 moratorium if signed would block new utility-scale solar statewide.

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Last verified: Mar 2026 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes