Crook County commissioners voted Dec. 17 to opt out of the new Eastern Oregon solar-siting rules and keep the county's existing review process in place while staff updates the county's Goal 5 inventory.

Community Development Director John Eister told the board the opt-out is intended to "keep the status quo" so the county does not suddenly face applications for much larger solar facilities before the county is ready. He said the county secured a grant to update its maps and inventory and will conduct public outreach and expert review as it designs a local program.

The order approved by the board (Order 2025-37) leaves in place the county's existing exception process for projects over the county's current acreage thresholds. Eister said the decision buys time to refine siting criteria that consider distance to transmission, slope and solar-resource factors and to add other locally relevant factors.

Commissioner (Speaker 4) moved to approve the order. The motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

Next steps: staff will use the grant-funded goal-5 inventory update to produce new maps, solicit public input and return to the board with a proposed locally tailored program for siting large solar facilities.