In July the OPALCO leadership team hosted an open house with co-op members. About 20
islanders gathered with some of the OPALCO board and leadership team to discuss a wide
variety of topics.
Members had thoughtful comments on OPALCO power rates, energy conservation, the Decatur
Island Solar Expansion project, battery storage, virtual power plants, rising demand and
alternative renewable energy sources. Members seemed to enjoy the opportunity to ask
questions about the submarine cables, the maintenance of the grid, and OPALCO’s future
power supply plan.
The OPALCO leadership team highlighted that they are predicting a 30% increase in electricity
usage in the next 20 years and that OPALCO must plan for that growth to ensure safe and
reliable power for the community. Increasing regional demand from electric vehicles, data
centers, and population growth, coupled with clean energy mandates, is resulting in higher
energy costs throughout the region.
“The OPALCO membership has more than $36 million invested in energy efficiency and
renewable energy projects, which has delayed the need to purchase the more expensive
market power,” stated General Manager Foster Hildreth, “We have a lot to be proud of as a co-
op and we need to keep promoting energy savings and looking into local generation solutions
to ensure a sustainable energy future.”
OPALCO will continue to look for ways to keep power costs down for the membership. Some of
the strategies OPALCO will use include applying for grant funds when available, robust
efficiency, solar, and battery storage programs for co-op members, and utility-scale projects
including an agrivoltaics project on San Juan Island. OPALCO plans to work with stakeholders
and San Juan County to modernize the permitting framework and siting criteria for renewable
energy projects.
OPALCO wants the community to have the tools they need for an efficient and affordable
energy future. OPALCO will continue to host these casual talks with rotating locations and
varying times. The next Leadership Chat event will be on San Juan Island on Aug. 26 at 5 p.m.
Find us at the Grange in Friday Harbor. The team looks forward to seeing you there.
Find our event schedule at www.opalco.com/events and if you have questions, you can email
communications@opalco.com.
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is our member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving
more than 11,400 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 97%
greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in
1937. Follow OPALCO @OrcasPower on Facebook and Instagram.