SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / OR / Wasco

Wasco County, OR — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

41.8
Risk Grade
Good
The Dalles industrial energy corridor tradition (Columbia River hydropower, aluminum industry) creates strong acceptance for solar; Google data center presence demonstrates large energy infrastructure capacity; northern NSA area more restricted; excellent BPA transmission access via John Day–Celilo corridor
Assessment Snapshot
Population
27093
State Rank
#10
Compliance
40%
Trajectory
30

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
100 ft from property lines; 200 ft from residences in EFU; NSA scenic setbacks north of The Dalles (200+ ft from scenic highways)
Zoning Mechanism
EFU, Grazing (G), The Dalles Urban Growth Boundary, Industrial (The Dalles energy corridor), Columbia River Gorge NSA (northern county), Moro/Dufur/Shaniko rural zones
Acreage Caps
No county cap
Spacing Rules
None specified
Size Restrictions
Columbia River Gorge Commission approval for NSA areas; ODOE >35 MW; county CUP for non-NSA; BPA interconnection for transmission

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Supportive — The Dalles energy industry tradition strongly supports solar; Google data center presence normalizes large energy infrastructure; NSA communities more cautious; Gorge strong overall net positive sentiment for The Dalles area development; The Dalles Chronicle coverage positive
Basis for Assessment
Wasco County planning records 2019-2024; The Dalles Chronicle; Columbia River Gorge Commission records; Google data center permit records; BPA interconnection data
Political Risk Factors
Stable — energy development tradition in The Dalles normalizes solar; Google data center presence demonstrates large-scale energy infrastructure acceptance; northern Gorge communities more protective of scenic character
Board Members
Scott Hege (Chair), Rod Runyon, Kathy Schwartz

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Pacific Power (PacifiCorp); BPA (John Day Dam–Celilo converter station; premier BPA transmission hub)
Utilities
Pacific Power (PacifiCorp), Columbia Gorge Community Solar cooperatives (emerging)
State Permitting Process
ORS 215 EFU CUP; Columbia River Gorge Commission for NSA areas; ODOE >35 MW; Wasco County Zoning Ordinance
State Incentives
Eligible — Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program; Energy Trust of Oregon; federal IRA investment tax credits

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Bakeoven Solar (80 MW, 2021); Daybreak Solar (189 MW, 2021)
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