Hidalgo County
Hidalgo County, New Mexico: 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 | 4,198 |
| 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
Hidalgo County is among the lower-risk jurisdictions in New Mexico for utility-scale solar development — ordinance conditions are favorable and permitting history is constructive. New Mexico'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: Cochise County (≈59 mi) · Luna County (≈62 mi) · Doña Ana County (≈116 mi)
Cities, towns & townships
Local governments in Hidalgo County. An incorporated city, town or village can adopt its own zoning, separate from the county’s.
- Lordsburg city
- Virden village
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, incorporated places and county subdivisions with an active government.
Nearby counties
- Cochise County, AZ · ≈59 miD62—
- Grant County · ≈61 miB38—
- Luna County · ≈62 miA29—
- Greenlee County, AZ · ≈97 miC50—
- Graham County, AZ · ≈97 miC45—
- Doña Ana County · ≈116 miD54—
Compare these counties side-by-side →
Hidalgo County ranks #7 of 33 ranked New Mexico counties (1 = lowest permitting risk). Lowest-risk in New Mexico: De Baca County (A · 25), Sierra County (A · 27), Guadalupe County (A · 28). See all New Mexico 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.