SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / OR / Hood River

Hood River County, OR — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

52.2
Risk Grade
Fair
Columbia River Gorge NSA restrictions are the dominant risk factor — most of county subject to strict scenic review; limited development area outside NSA; progressive community that values gorge character over development; scenic tourism economy creates structural opposition to utility-scale ground-mounted solar
Assessment Snapshot
Population
24230
State Rank
#21
Compliance
65%
Trajectory
35

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
Scenic setbacks apply — typically 200 ft from designated scenic highways; NSA buffer distances from viewpoints; 100 ft from property lines for non-NSA areas
Zoning Mechanism
Columbia River Gorge NSA (most of county); EFU in agricultural gorge floor; Urban Growth Boundaries for Hood River city; Hood River Heights residential zone
Acreage Caps
No formal acreage cap but NSA scenic review effectively limits scale
Spacing Rules
None specified; NSA Management Plan governs siting proximity
Size Restrictions
Columbia River Gorge Commission approval for NSA projects; ODOE >35 MW; county CUP for non-NSA areas

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed-Cautious — Hood River progressive community supports renewable energy in principle but fiercely protective of scenic character; Columbia River Gorge Commission is a state-federal bistate body creating additional approval layer; viticulture industry cautious about industrial development
Basis for Assessment
Columbia River Gorge Commission meeting records; Hood River County planning records; Hood River News newspaper; Columbia River Gorge NSA Management Plan review documents
Political Risk Factors
Stable — Gorge NSA community values scenic protection over development; Hood River is progressive but NSA constraints are bipartisan in the community; tourism economy dependent on protected scenic character
Board Members
Karen Joplin (Chair), Lena Gunn, Caitlin Moody

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Portland General Electric (PGE) — west side; Pacific Power (PacifiCorp) — east/The Dalles area; BPA Bonneville Dam adjacent grid
Utilities
Portland General Electric (PGE), Pacific Power (PacifiCorp) east county
State Permitting Process
Columbia River Gorge NSA Management Plan approval; ORS 196.150; ORS 215 EFU CUP for non-NSA areas; ODOE >35 MW
State Incentives
Eligible — Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program; Energy Trust of Oregon (PGE territory)

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
None verified
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
0

Explore the Full Tracker

View risk assessments for all 3,100+ US counties, compare states, and download detailed ordinance data for your solar development pipeline.

Launch SolarRisk Tracker

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