Quick Facts
Co-op Governance
Quick Fact: OPALCO’s Industry Association Memberships and Co-op Benefits
How does the Co-op benefit from OPALCO’s membership with industry associations? As a small electric cooperative, OPALCO benefits from the larger capacity, resources and reach of several industry associations to … Read more
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
Quick Fact: Staff Compensation
OPALCO conducts a thorough comparative analysis to verify that salaries are competitive within our utility industry. Hiring and retaining top notch personnel is critical to the operation of OPALCO’s complex … Read more
Quick Fact – National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association (NRECA)
NRECA supports our local co-op and our employees to better serve our membership. NRECA is focused on promoting, supporting and protecting the community and business interests of electric cooperatives as … Read more
Member Programs
Quick Fact: Surge Protection
In the electric industry, power surges are unavoidable. However, just like with home security systems, there are things we can do to protect us from surges, though never fully. The … Read more
Quick Fact: Wildfire Mitigation
Wildfires are a regular threat to our built and natural environments. Climate change is accelerating that risk and our remote, forested islands are vulnerable. OPALCO follows industry best practices for … Read more
Quick Fact: Inflation Reduction Act
The Inflation Reduction Act Pays you to Save Energy and Save the Planet Climate change is accelerating. Nonstop news of summer heat waves, wildfires, storms and flooding can be overwhelming. … Read more
Quick Fact: OPALCO’s Right-of-Way (ROW) Program
Wildfires are a regular threat to our built and natural environments. Climate change is accelerating that risk throughout the region and our remote, forested islands are vulnerable. OPALCO runs an … Read more
Our Energy Future
Why Local Renewable Projects? Mainland Power Demand Will Soon Exceed Supply
OPALCO is Preparing for Mainland Rolling Blackouts Did you know the Northwest power grid almost crashed during the January 2024 cold snap? As the hydro system hit capacity, the region … Read more
VOTE in OPALCO’s Election! Voters Eligible to Win Prizes!
The OPALCO election opens March 6th and the Co-op will be hosting a Candidate Forum on that same day so co-op members can meet the candidates. As a member-owned cooperative, … Read more
Quick Fact: OPALCO Needs a New Submarine Cable to Meet Growing Demand
OPALCO’s power supply system from the mainland is currently at capacity during peak usage events such as extreme low winter temperatures. The San Juan Islands, like many remote and rural … Read more
Quick Fact: Climate Change News Review – September 2022
As the climate emergency accelerates, energy and decarbonization are becoming regular topics in mainstream news, social media and research. Below, we review several notable items from the past month that … Read more
Renewables
Why Local Renewable Projects? Mainland Power Demand Will Soon Exceed Supply
OPALCO is Preparing for Mainland Rolling Blackouts Did you know the Northwest power grid almost crashed during the January 2024 cold snap? As the hydro system hit capacity, the region … Read more
Quick Fact: Bailer Hill Microgrid
Note: This project is currently in permitting and will be offered to members when permits are complete, hopefully in 2024. The Bailer Hill Microgrid project on San Juan Island is … Read more
Quick Fact: OPALCO Solar Rate for residential members
OPALCO’s solar rate is designed to encourage local renewable generation while also collecting revenue to cover the cost of service. Solar producers use the grid to buy and sell power. … Read more
Quick Fact: OPALCO Tidal Energy Pilot Project
Tidal Energy to Increase Energy Resilience and Advance Renewable Energy Goals Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is a non-profit cooperative electric utility providing service in San Juan County, WA … Read more
Regional Issues
Quick Fact: Future Power Purchase Strategy
OPALCO is negotiating terms of a new contract (2028) for power purchases through our power contractor with the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA – our power supplier). OPALCO has been a … Read more
Quick Fact: Ocean Health
OPALCO is committed to reducing carbon emissions for the health of the Salish Sea. Climate change is making our oceans warmer, more acidic and less productive. Ocean acidification happens when … Read more
Quick Fact: Northwest Resource Adequacy in a Rapidly Decarbonizing World
Northwest regional load is projected to double by 2050 due to the electrification of transportation and heating, which account for most greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the region. This has … Read more
Quick Fact – Land for Renewable Energy Projects
The Essential Ingredient for Local Energy Resilience The Climate Emergency and Decarbonization The climate emergency is accelerating. Washington state has taken the lead in decarbonizing the state by rapidly reducing … Read more