Stillwater County
Stillwater County, Montana: solar permitting grade A (score 29/100, Low Risk). Score has been stable over the last 12 months. Primary-source ordinance and board-vote data on SitePath.
Public summary
| Grade | A · Low Risk · Score 29/100 |
| Population | 9,642 |
| Solar ordinance | Ordinance status documented in detail |
| Active moratorium | None on record |
| Regulatory trajectory | Stable (no material ordinance movement) |
| 12-month score movement | Stable |
| Last verified | 2026-05-02 |
Developer outlook
Stillwater County is among the lower-risk jurisdictions in Montana for utility-scale solar development — ordinance conditions are favorable and permitting history is constructive.
Local intel
On file: energy-related meetings · named opposition groups
- 2026-08-24SolarThe county considered a final application for a solar project. · agenda
- 2026-08-24SolarCommissioners approved the final conditional use permit for the Battle Butte Solar 1 & 2 project. · agenda
- 2026-07-20SolarImpact Fee Agreement – Puget Sound Energy, Inc and Stillwater County for Battle Butte Solar Project in Rapelje, MT. · agenda
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Stillwater County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Columbus town
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Sweet Grass County · ≈28 miB32—
- Carbon County · ≈35 miB33—
- Golden Valley County · ≈51 miB35—
- Yellowstone County · ≈57 miC48—
- Park County · ≈58 miB33—
- Wheatland County · ≈62 miB32—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Stillwater County ranks #5 of 56 ranked Montana counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in Montana: Jefferson County (A · 25), Broadwater County (A · 25), Garfield County (A · 27). See all Montana 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.