SolarRisk Tracker / Explore / WA / Spokane

Spokane County, WA — Solar Development Risk Assessment

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

35.8
Risk Grade
Good
Avista historically cautious IOU stance on solar integration is improving under CETA pressure; growing commercial saturation; suburban sprawl limits greenfield sites.
Assessment Snapshot
Population
539,468
State Rank
#8
Compliance
38%
Trajectory
38

Moratorium Status

✓ No Active Moratorium
No Moratorium

Ordinance & Regulations

Setback Requirements
Spokane County code: setback and site plan requirements for utility-scale solar projects in Agricultural zones.
Zoning Mechanism
Spokane County: CUP in Agricultural zones; Spokane County Hearing Examiner; Board of County Commissioners. City of Spokane: building permit process for commercial and residential rooftop.
Acreage Caps
None codified.
Density Caps
None codified.
Spacing Rules
None codified.
Size Restrictions
None codified.

Board Sentiment & Political Risk

Sentiment Analysis
Supportive — Spokane climate action plan; growing business community interest; Avista adapting to CETA; Spokane Valley commercial solar market expanding
Basis for Assessment
Avista IOU serves most of county (largest utility outside PSE in WA); City of Spokane has climate action plan; Spokane Valley industrial corridor has commercial rooftop demand; Washington State University Spokane campus; Limited but growing utility-scale on agricultural fringe; solid 4.8 kWh/m²/day irradiance
Political Risk Factors
Improving
Board Members
Board of Spokane County Commissioners (3 members) | Partisan elections | 4-yr terms | Spokane County Courthouse, Spokane WA

Grid, Utilities & State Context

Grid Operator
WECC / BPA Transmission — Avista Utilities service territory; Spokane metropolitan grid
Utilities
Avista Utilities, Modern Electric Water Co.
State Permitting Process
Large facilities (≥350 MW): EFSEC exclusive jurisdiction. <350 MW: county CUP/SUP; no statewide preemption floor. SEPA review required. GMA energy siting required in comprehensive plans. SMA applies near shorelines. Critical Areas Ordinances: wetlands, fish habitat, flood zones require county CAO compliance. Ag land conversion: county-specific farmland protection policies apply.
State Incentives
Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA/SB 5116, 2019): IOUs carbon-neutral by 2030; 100% carbon-free by 2045. Net metering: ≤100 kW IOU customers under WUTC; PUDs set individual limits. RESIP: production incentives for ≤100 kW systems. Sales & use tax exemption (RCW 82.08.962). Property tax exemption (RCW 84.36.635). Community solar via PSE, SnoPUD, Tacoma Power, Clark Public Utilities, and most WA PUDs. PACE financing in participating counties. Federal ITC: 30% (IRA 2022); 10% low-income adder for qualifying projects.

Development Activity

Active/Completed Projects
Multiple commercial rooftop installations in Spokane Valley industrial areas; University District campus solar; growing residential pipeline; Avista net metering program active; some mid-scale utility-scale approvals on agricultural fringe.
Denied/Withdrawn Projects
No formal denials on record; Avista interconnection process has historically been cautious but improving.

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Last verified: 2026-04-01 | SolarRisk Tracker | Data sources: Government records, utility filings, public meeting minutes