Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project Update
September 30, 2025 is the last day to make public comments on the Rosario Tidal Energy Project as part of the public process with a pilot Draft License Application (DLA) with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Future funding is currently being determined by the Department of Energy (DOE) and is still months away from a decision.
In spring of 2024, OPALCO was awarded a grant to study tidal energy in the Rosario Strait from the Department of Energy (DOE). The team spent a year doing an extensive “first look” at what tidal energy could mean for the community. The Draft License Application (DLA) submitted to FERC compiles the best available science, presents the results of the site characterization studies, and includes the effects of the project on existing conditions.
OPALCO chose to explore this technology because a version of it is deployed in a similar marine environment (Orkney Islands) and environmental impacts there are minimal. While lessons from the Orkney pilot are informative and will be applied to OPALCO’s project, the Rosario Strait project will undergo its own scientific monitoring and mitigation requirements (as identified in the Draft License Application), ensuring locally relevant data informs every stage of design, construction, and operation.
Since 2022, OPALCO has been meeting with the Tribal Nations to engage them on this project and to obtain their early input to help shape the project. OPALCO had 92 “touch points” with the Tribal Nations during this time including virtual meetings, emails, and phone calls. OPALCO is grateful for the relationships with the Tribal Nations and their meaningful feedback and engagement on this project over the last 3.5 years.
OPALCO appreciates that the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (Tribe) let OPALCO know in advance that they submitted a formal objection to the project with FERC. The objection raises concerns about the impacts the project will have on the Usual & Accustomed Tribal Fishing Rights and the sensitive marine environment. The Tribe also shared with us some of the bigger regional issues with existing/old mooring balls, docks and other marine equipment that lingers in the waters and that they are looking for this to be addressed before adding in new infrastructure. The OPALCO Team takes feedback from the Tribal Nations seriously and appreciates the time they took to provide input. OPALCO knows that the success of this project or projects like this in the future will rely on the support and collaboration with the Tribal Nations.
OPALCO will heavily consider any tribal objection as they weigh out the potential of this project. OPALCO has built trust and strong working relationships with the Tribal Nations involved in their projects throughout the San Juan Islands, and will work to maintain these deeply valuable relationships.
Additionally, OPALCO remains firmly committed to financial responsibility and environmental stewardship. Local, renewable energy projects need to be technically, environmentally, and fiscally sound. If this project were to move forward, there are still lots of studies, research, and analysis to be done to make sure this a viable energy source for this region and that it meets the criteria for success on all fronts.
Historically, OPALCO explored a different tidal energy project in the early 1980s. Tidal energy has great potential to supply us with carbon-free energy in this area – especially valuable during the winter and night hours. By providing renewable power locally, the project and projects like this could reduce reliance on carbon-based energy generation and long-distance, dam-generated, energy imports, leading to broader environmental benefits for marine mammals.
OPALCO has an extensive Fact Sheet on this project that showcases the work done to date. OPALCO remains committed to sharing all of the data and research with co-op members and the greater community. Check out the information here: www.opalco.com/tidal.
