Bethel Census Area
Bethel Census Area, Alaska: solar permitting grade B (score 38/100, Moderate Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | B · Moderate Risk · Score 38/100 |
| Population | 18,386 |
| Solar ordinance | No specific solar ordinance recorded |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Bethel Census Area presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation.
Local intel
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Bethel Census Area. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Akiak city
- Aniak city
- Bethel city
- Chefornak city
- Chuathbaluk city
- Eek city
- Goodnews Bay city
- Kwethluk city
- Lower Kalskag city
- Mekoryuk city
- Napakiak city
- Napaskiak city
- Nightmute city
- Nunapitchuk city
- Platinum city
- Quinhagak city
- Toksook Bay city
- Upper Kalskag city
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Dillingham Census Area · ≈93 miB38—
- Kusilvak Census Area · ≈140 miB38—
- Bristol Bay Borough · ≈187 miB37—
- Lake and Peninsula Borough · ≈223 miC45—
- Kenai Peninsula Borough · ≈268 miB41—
- Nome Census Area · ≈295 miB38—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Bethel Census Area ranks #9 of 28 ranked Alaska counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Alaska: Fairbanks North Star Borough (B · 34), Denali Borough (B · 37), Chugach Census Area (B · 37). See all Alaska county grades →
Want the full record?
Setback distances, board vote histories, source documents, and ordinance amendments are available in the full county profile. The map is free; a walkthrough shows you the underlying record.
About this score
Every U.S. county is scored 0–100 on solar permitting risk (lower is friendlier to development). The grade is a weighted composite of compliance stringency, market saturation, regulatory trajectory, and data uncertainty. Every figure traces back to a primary government document. Read the full methodology →
Related reading
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.