Back to Blog

WSF: Electrify the San Juan Islands Ferry Routes FIRST

The current WS Ferries Long range plan for deploying electric ferries puts the San Juan routes last on the list. Why lose decades in our efforts to protect this critical area of the Salish Sea – and all of the species who depend on it? OPALCO is calling for WSF to prioritize getting the new, cleaner, quieter and super-efficient electric ferries to the San Juan Islands route FIRST.

Here is a list of resources to learn more about this issue:

Read our editorial:  https://www.opalco.com/wsf-electrify-the-san-juan-islands-ferry-routes-first-dont-delay-protection-of-the-salish-sea/2019/01/

Here is the complete letter sent by OPALCO to WSDOT Ferries: https://www.opalco.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Electrify-Ferries_SJI-FIRST.pdf

Check out this informational slide presentation:

Here is the list of individuals and organizations that support getting the San Juan ferries electrified first:

    • Friends of the San Juans
    • SeaDoc Society
    • Wolf Hollow Wildlife Rehabilitation Center
    • City of Anacortes
    • Swinomish Tribal Community
    • San Juan Community Home Trust
    • The Whale Museum
    • Lincoln Bormann
    • San Juan Islands Electric Vehicle Association
    • San Juan Island Energy Round Table
    • OPALCO Board of Directors
    • San Juan Islands Conservation District
    • Economic Development Council
    • San Juan County Preservation Trust
    • OPALCO Community Land Trust
    • Orcas Island Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
    • Ken Carrasco
    • Wally Gudgell

 

You may also like...

fixed versus variable

Quick Fact – OPALCO Rates

Balancing Cost, Benefit, and Fairness As a non-profit co-op, OPALCO keeps rates as low as possible by controlling expenses and pricing electricity at the residential and commercial cost of service. Though … Read more
Pie chart illustrating the breakout of OPALCO's costs. Updated December 2025.

Quick Fact: Cost of Service

Your power bill = the cost to deliver power Co-ops operate as a cost of service organization. The money OPALCO collects in bills goes primarily toward the cost of power, … Read more
OPALCO logo on scenic powerline background

Consider Running for the OPALCO Board

Your not-for-profit cooperative needs you! Are you feeling the itch to get involved in your community and be a local change-maker? The Orcas Power & Light Cooperative Board of Directors … Read more