SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / UT / San Juan

San Juan County, UT — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

58
Risk Grade
Fair
Extremely complex jurisdictional landscape (county/BLM/tribal/NPS); very high uncertainty; lowest median income in Utah; limited grid; Navajo land renewable development is a separate track
Assessment Snapshot
Population
14818
State Rank
#17
Compliance
55%
Trajectory
55

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
County setbacks for non-tribal land; Navajo Nation regulations on tribal land (separate jurisdiction)
Zoning Mechanism
CUP for county-jurisdiction land; Navajo Nation requires Nation-level permits for tribal land
Acreage Caps
No county cap; tribal land governed separately
Spacing Rules
None specified
Size Restrictions
None formal on county land; tribal land restrictions apply separately

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Mixed — Navajo Nation has renewable energy interests but complex land rights; non-Navajo community has limited solar engagement
Basis for Assessment
Navajo Nation has significant renewable energy development interest through NTUA; county-level non-tribal politics are more conservative; Bears Ears NM designation contentious
Political Risk Factors
Uncertain
Board Members
Kenneth Maryboy | D | 2026; Bruce Adams | R | 2026; Willie Grayeyes | D | 2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) — East Control Area; Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (tribal areas)
Utilities
Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp), Navajo Tribal Utility Authority
State Permitting Process
ESSA for >50 MW; tribal land requires Navajo Nation permits
State Incentives
Utah Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit (county-jurisdiction land); NTUA programs on tribal land

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
NTUA small-scale on tribal territory (outside county jurisdiction)
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
None on county-jurisdiction land

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Last verified: 2025-03-01 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes