Kitsap County, WA — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

Kitsap County: setback requirements for utility-scale solar per county code provisions; military buffer zone considerations apply near Naval installations.

Kitsap County: CUP in agricultural and rural zones; Kitsap County Hearing Examiner and Board of County Commissioners.

Supportive — Kitsap PUD active solar programs; county board supportive; growing suburban population drives residential demand; Naval base employment maintains strong economy

Kitsap PUD serves most of county; Bremerton City Light serves Bremerton; PSE serves small areas; Naval Base Kitsap and PSNS Bremerton are major employers and land holders; Puget Sound geography limits ferry access for large construction; strong residential and commercial rooftop market

Stable

Large facilities (≥350 MW): Washington EFSEC exclusive siting jurisdiction — state preempts local permitting. Projects <350 MW: county CUP or SUP in agricultural or resource-zoned land; no statewide preemption floor for smaller projects. SEPA review required for utility-scale; DNS/MDNS/EIS per county SEPA lead agency. GMA counties must address energy siting in comprehensive plans. SMA applies near shorelines. Critical Areas Ordinances: wetlands, fish habitat, flood zones require county CAO compliance. Agricultural land: county-specific farmland protection policies apply; prime farmland conversion may require additional findings.

Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA/SB 5116, 2019): IOUs must be carbon-neutral by 2030; 100% carbon-free by 2045. Net metering: ≤100 kW for IOU customers under WUTC; PUDs set individual limits, most allow up to 100% annual consumption offset. RESIP (Renewable Energy System Incentive Program): production incentives for systems ≤100 kW, utility-funded. Sales & use tax exemption: solar PV equipment fully exempt (RCW 82.08.962). Property tax exemption: solar systems excluded from assessed value (RCW 84.36.635). Community solar programs through PSE, SnoPUD, Tacoma Power, Clark Public Utilities, and most WA PUDs. PACE financing available in participating WA counties. Federal ITC: 30% (IRA 2022); low-income adder: 10% bonus ITC for qualifying community benefit projects.

Kitsap PUD community solar program has enrolled hundreds of customers; multiple commercial rooftop installations at Bremerton ferry terminal and industrial parks; limited greenfield utility-scale due to military land and suburban density.

No formal denials on record; Naval installation buffer zones effectively exclude large areas from development.