Carlton County
Carlton County, Minnesota: solar permitting grade B (score 36/100, Moderate Risk). Score has improved by 4 points over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | B · Moderate Risk · Score 36/100 |
| Population | 36,649 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status not yet documented |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Improving (composite risk score has fallen over 12 months) |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Carlton County presents moderate permitting risk; conditions are generally workable for utility-scale solar with standard due-diligence preparation. The local regulatory environment has been trending more permissive over the past 12 months. Minnesota's state RPS policy provides a supportive macro backdrop for renewables, even where individual county ordinances are restrictive.
Local intel
5 energy-related meetings · 3 opposition groups
- 2026-07-07Data CenterThe Carlton County Land Stewards approved a special-use permit application for a 150 MW solar farm. · agenda
- 2026-06-03TransmissionThe Planning Commission approved a special-use permit application for a transmission line project in Carlton County. · agenda
- 2026-05-12SolarApproved contract change order with McKinstry Essention, LLC for a Federally Funded Solar Project at the Justice Center · agenda
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 →
SitePath Intelligence is a research platform. Data verified as of 2026-05-02. Scores update on a quarterly review cycle.