54.8

Risk Grade

Fair

Ag-land protection mindset aligns with solar resistance for utility-scale; moderate compliance burden; stable but cautious; risk at C threshold

Assessment Snapshot

Population

30939

State Rank

#16

Compliance

50%

Trajectory

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium

No specific moratorium information available.

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements

200 ft from property lines; 500 ft from residential

Zoning Mechanism

CUP required for utility-scale; commission reviews carefully; ag-land conversion is trigger for scrutiny

Acreage Caps

No formal cap; commission discretion

Density Caps

None formal

Size Restrictions

Commission discretion applied to ag-land proposals

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis

Cautious — strong LDS agricultural community; land stewardship values; some renewable interest but ag-land protection dominant

Basis for Assessment

Strong agricultural identity (Sanpete Valley turkey farming, alfalfa); commission has explicitly cited ag-land protection in solar denials; LDS community values land stewardship

Political Risk Factors

Uncertain

Board Members

Claudia Jarrett | R | 2026; David Healey | R | 2026; Alma Albrecht | R | 2028

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator

Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) — West Control Area

Utilities

Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp)

State Permitting Process

ESSA for >50 MW

State Incentives

Utah Renewable Energy Systems Tax Credit; net metering

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects

Small commercial (Manti, 2022)

Denied/Withdrawn Projects

35 MW proposal denied 2023 on ag-land conversion grounds

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Sanpete County, UT — Solar Development Risk Assessment