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Clatsop County, OR — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

42.5
Risk Grade
Good
Coastal cloudy climate with low solar irradiance is primary constraint; Columbia Gorge NSA and coastal management restrictions add regulatory complexity in key areas; manageable regulatory environment but limited commercial solar resource drives low development activity
Assessment Snapshot
Population
41247
State Rank
#11
Compliance
40%
Trajectory
35

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
100 ft from residential structures; varies by zone; additional NSA-specific setbacks in Columbia Gorge corridor
Zoning Mechanism
EFU, Forestry (F), Coastal Shorelands (CS), Rural Residential (RR), Commercial Visitor (CV); NSA Scenic Review Area overlay in gorge
Acreage Caps
No specific county cap
Spacing Rules
None specified
Size Restrictions
ODOE >35 MW; Columbia River Gorge NSA Commission review for projects in gorge; Oregon Division of State Lands for coastal wetland adjacency

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral — coastal community focused on fishing, tourism, and the Port of Astoria; solar is not a major political issue; Daily Astorian coverage shows modest public interest
Basis for Assessment
Clatsop County planning records 2021-2024; Daily Astorian (Astoria); Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting minutes; Oregon Coastal Management Program
Political Risk Factors
Stable — moderate coastal politics; Astoria tourism economy; not driving major opposition or development push
Board Members
Sarah Nebel (Chair), Kathleen Sullivan, John Labhart, Mary Schamehorn, Scott Lee

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Pacific Power (PacifiCorp); BPA Columbia River transmission corridor; Bonneville Lock and Dam grid assets
Utilities
Pacific Power (PacifiCorp), Clatsop County PUD (some rural customers)
State Permitting Process
ORS 215 EFU CUP; ORS 390.318 Columbia River Gorge; OCMP; ODOE >35 MW siting
State Incentives
Eligible — Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program; Energy Trust of Oregon

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
None verified
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
0

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Last verified: April 2026 (web research) | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes