Klickitat County, WA — Solar Development Risk Assessment

No Moratorium

No county-specific solar setbacks; Columbia River Gorge NSA scenic review applies within designated corridor.

Klickitat County: CUP in Agricultural and Resource zones; Columbia River Gorge Commission review required for projects within NSA boundary; Board of County Commissioners approval.

Cautious/neutral — Columbia Gorge scenic identity limits riverside development; Simcoe Mountains plateau viable for solar; county board generally neutral

Klickitat PUD and Pacific Power serve area; Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is co-managed by USFS and Gorge Commission; wind energy established on Simcoe Mountains; solar entering market; Goldendale area has tourism interest in Observatory and Stonehenge replica

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.

Some wind and early-stage solar projects on Simcoe Mountains plateau east of Goldendale; limited projects within Gorge NSA boundary due to scenic review requirements; Klickitat PUD net metering program active.

No confirmed denials on record; Gorge NSA coordination has limited development within scenic corridor.