Alpena County
Alpena County, Michigan: solar permitting grade B (score 35/100, 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 35/100 |
| Population | 28,405 |
| Solar ordinance | Active solar ordinance on the books |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Alpena County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. Michigan's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
No energy-related meetings, PSC dockets, or named opposition tracked for this county yet. See indexed calendar →
Nearby counties where SitePath is tracking energy activity: Otsego County (≈57 mi) · Huron County (≈74 mi) · Sanilac County (≈107 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
In Michigan, townships hold their own zoning and land-use authority, so the rules for a site in Alpena County often depend on which of these governments it falls in.
- Alpena city
- Hillman village
- Alpena township
- Green township
- Long Rapids township
- Maple Ridge township
- Ossineke township
- Sanborn township
- Wellington township
- Wilson township
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Alcona County · ≈33 miB34—
- Montmorency County · ≈36 miB35—
- Oscoda County · ≈37 miB37—
- Presque Isle County · ≈41 miB38—
- Iosco County · ≈48 miB35—
- Ogemaw County · ≈52 miB35—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Alpena County ranks #23 of 83 ranked Michigan counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Michigan: Macomb County (A · 28), Oakland County (A · 29), Washtenaw County (B · 31). See all Michigan 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.