SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / OR / Wheeler

Wheeler County, OR — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

47.8
Risk Grade
Fair
Extremely remote county (1,332 people) with no meaningful grid infrastructure; John Day Fossil Beds National Monument across three units in county creates development constraint zones; tiny population limits distributed solar market; high scenic value limits utility-scale development interest; among lowest solar development potential in Oregon
Assessment Snapshot
Population
1332
State Rank
#18
Compliance
50%
Trajectory
40

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
150 ft from property lines; 0.5-mile NPS buffer from Monument unit boundaries; John Day River scenic setbacks
Zoning Mechanism
EFU, Grazing (G), BLM Public Lands, John Day Fossil Beds NM (NPS), Fossil/Mitchell/Spray Urban Growth Boundaries (very small)
Acreage Caps
No county cap
Spacing Rules
None specified
Size Restrictions
ODOE >35 MW; NPS for Monument adjacency (multiple unit proximity); BLM Prineville District ROW for federal land solar; county CUP

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Neutral — tiny ranching community with minimal solar development interest; John Day Fossil Beds tourism community values scenic character; extremely low population and economic base limit organized positions; Blue Mountain Eagle coverage shows no engagement
Basis for Assessment
Wheeler County planning records; Blue Mountain Eagle (John Day, Grant County); NPS John Day Fossil Beds NM records; Wheeler County Commissioner meeting minutes
Political Risk Factors
Cautious — tiny ranching community; John Day Fossil Beds National Monument drives scenic protection values; Fossil (county seat) is among smallest cities in Oregon; Blue Mountain Eagle (John Day) coverage minimal
Board Members
Curt Webb (Chair), Jeff Simonson, Robert Maupin

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Pacific Power (PacifiCorp); no BPA direct access in Wheeler County
Utilities
Pacific Power (PacifiCorp), None/isolated rural distribution
State Permitting Process
ORS 215 EFU CUP; NPS Monument buffer review; BLM ROW for federal lands; ODOE >35 MW; Wheeler County Zoning Ordinance
State Incentives
Eligible — Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
None on record
Denied/Withdrawn Projects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