Quick Fact: Decatur 2025
Decatur 2025 – May 10th Town Hall – Decatur Island School House
Background information: If the co-op membership wishes for OPALCO to maintain power reliability, we need to site and build local renewable generation and energy storage to offset our projected increase in electricity usage (about 30% over the next 10 or so years). If we don’t offset our projected increase in electric usage with local generation, we will be facing an increase in the likelihood of power blackouts, starting at times associated with winter weather events.
Our community needs to come together to find acceptable locations for these projects. If we keep saying no to local projects – blackouts will be part of the future or very expensive carbon-based fuels that will continue to accelerate climate change.
The energy world is changing dramatically due to climate impacts, carbon reduction legislation, and the transition toward renewable power. The goal of our state and nation is to transition away from fossil fuels and heat our homes and fuel our cars, trucks and ferries using electricity. This lofty goal is proving to be highly challenging.
The hydropower systems that have historically supplied most of the Pacific Northwest’s electricity are at capacity, coal plants in the region are being shut down and natural gas generation comes with a carbon-based financial penalty. Our dilemma is figuring out how to satisfy increased demand for electricity while our supply of carbon-free firm power is shrinking. As more coal plants shut down and are replaced with intermittent resources (solar and wind), energy blackouts are increasingly predicted. Given our remote location, our best bet for clean and affordable firm power is to build renewable generation projects locally.
OPALCO has begun looking at expanding its Community Solar on Decatur Island. Part of the project will be in partnership with San Juan County to utilize a portion of its public works yard that is adjacent to the OPALCO’s substation/microgrid parcel. In March 2025, OPALCO acquired 19-acres adjacent to its current property on Decatur Island. The other part of this project will be expanding the solar site with additional Community Solar shares that members can purchase and benefit from the solar energy. This phase of the project is still in very early planning, and we don’t have many details to share as we are still assessing the site. OPALCO will be able to utilize Department of Commerce grants funds to install ~1.2MW of solar that will directly benefit low-income community members throughout San Juan County.
OPALCO is not planning to overburden Decatur with solar generation needed for the rest of San Juan County. If we added up all the solar generation currently proposed for Decatur (existing, plus planned), the total kWh generation could offset Decatur’s projected increase in electric usage (30%).
OPALCO is committed to early engagement and transparency as we continue the planning process. We started our engagement with Decatur Island residents in February for a first touch as we begin to explore this solar project. We are still working through a lot of details but heard some early feedback on opportunities for this project to directly benefit the Decatur Island Community. Project details could change – we will update them here. Read below for some of our answers to frequently asked questions.
Please continue asking questions and sharing feedback and the team will continue to work through these details and adjusting plans based on your input. Remember, OPALCO is a non-profit cooperative, and we rely on you – our members – to ensure we can fulfill our mission to provide reliable power to everyone in San Juan County. We abide by the 7 cooperative principles and remain committed to serving all of our membership. Below is a list of questions with answers that we’ve gotten to date.
The cooperative and our community is at a crossroads – do we want to embrace local, renewable energy or have a future where we live with rolling blackouts? OPALCO can not ration power and stop the increase in energy usage so when power supply can’t meet our communities increasing demand all of us regardless of our energy usage or location will be affected by rolling blackouts. We expect to experience increasing rolling blackouts during winter weather cold events. And we expect rolling blackouts to continue as long as demand for electricity is greater than supply.
Decatur Community Solar Project – Community Q&A (Power)
How was the projected increase in electrical usage for Decatur Island and the San Juan Islands “determined to be 30% over the next 10 years to or so”? According to the 2024 PNUCC Northwest Regional Forecast a 30% increase in electricity demand across the Northwest is due to “data center expansion, high-tech manufacturing growth and the trend toward electrification.” I don’t expect to see these activities occurring on Decatur or in the San Juan Islands. The 30% projection seems way too high. If there is another study specific to the San Juans please share it.
OPALCO utilizes a variety of data to determine where to set our projected load growth. San Juan County Comp Plan is required per the Growth Management Act to account for a certain level of growth. We utilize the Comp Plan so we can adequately plan for the future of San Juan County. Factors like population growth, high speed internet enabling people to work remotely from the islands, and the electrification of heating and transportation 30% is an appropriate number for us to utilize when estimating growth. Planning for our future load requires looking ahead 10-25 years for adding the needed infrastructure takes years and years to plan, design, permit, procure, and test. Regional load growth will also affect our local electrical supply since we aren’t installing new power sources fast enough – driving up costs and increasing the likelihood of blackouts.
OPALCO states it utilized state-based requirements to define low-income. According to sanjuancountywa.gov, the area median household income (AMI) in San Juan County in 2024 is $104,000. Low income in San Juan County is defined as those with annual income at or below 80% of AMI, which is $83,760. Are these the same numbers you used in obtaining the grant for Phase 1?
We received this Department of Commerce Grant in 2018 so likely the numbers are different then what is listed above. For OPALCO’s low-income programs, our requirement is that the member qualifies and provides proof that they qualify for another source of assistance like SNAP, Medicaid, LIHEAP, Rental Assistance and others.
Landscaping Plans (Park)
Per community feedback and county requirements OPALCO will be landscaping along the site of the future solar installations that are along the county road. There will also be fencing. OPALCO does not have plans to install a park. With the new property, OPALCO will be able to stage its equipment out of view from the road. We will be continuing to improve the longstanding substation site.
Will we be hiring a Decatur person for maintenance? How will regular maintenance be addressed?
OPALCO has used Decatur residents in the past to help with maintenance of our property. The plans for the site will be low growing grass that does not need a ton of regular maintenance. We will likely contract out for that work. If there are Decatur residents interested in this kind of work, they can reach out to OPALCO to find out what opportunities we have.
There is not a ton of maintenance required for solar projects outside of our normal property maintenance plans. This will be added to our regular scheduled maintenance for all the parcels that OPALCO owns.
Has there been a time when Decatur lost power and the battery took over?
There have been several times since 2018 that the battery has enabled Decatur Island to keep power up and running. If the outage is on the Decatur grid, then this disconnects your service from the battery and/or BPA/OPALCO substation, so the battery is unable to provide backup power for those kinds of outages. When the outage is between the mainland and Decatur then the battery can provide backup that will extend the power supply to Decatur meters. In January 2021 and December 2022 during outages, the battery extended the power supply for Decatur Island. We will have our system engineer at the meeting to discuss the details of how our battery storage system works.
Fiber project and summer schedule for Decatur NW?
Decatur Island generally is completed in terms of excavation and cable installation. Service connections for these areas will be scheduled periodically throughout the late spring and summer months this year. Please look for scheduling communication from Rock Island for service installation to take advantage of the opportunities for installation this summer.
Decatur Northwest – Excavation work is in process currently and is anticipated to be complete by October this year. Connections in Decatur Northwest will follow in Winter of 2025 and Spring of 2026.
Can you ask that the presenters talk about fire prevention, fire response, and toxic fume risks from the battery storage system?
OPALCO performs regular inspections and maintenance of equipment, monitors the batteries and solar site with an automated system, maintains clear firebreak zones, protective devices that can isolate faults, and vegetation management to ensure the safety of all its sites and utilizes specific fire response system for battery storage sites. The battery container is sealed and will remain sealed in the event of a fire to aid in the suppression of the fire and keeps the fumes encased. There are no plans for additional battery storage projects on Decatur at this time. The battery chemistry used for the existing energy storage battery on Decatur is designed for low probability of fire called iron phosphate.
Is sheep grazing an option?
Since this is not an agricultural parcel like the Bailer Hill project – OPALCO has not been planning to do sheep grazing or farming on this parcel. Space is more limited on this parcel.
Fire prevention and response:
OPALCO will have the fire suppression and prevention measures in place for the solar site. OPALCO is also researching whether the well on the property could be utilized for fire protection.
Road Dust mitigation
San Juan County is responsible for the County roads. This is a good question for San Juan County Public Works. OPALCO will work to keep the impacts during construction to a minimum for the Decatur Community.
You also mentioned in the meeting that there are plans/needs for solar arrays across the islands to meet future needs. Are batteries part of the plans upon installation, never, or in the future – and upon what factors does this depend?
Battery storage is part of OPALCO’s long term plans for our energy future. Offering utility scale power storage will increase our power reliability in the event of widespread blackouts or intense weather events. Battery storage is very expensive, so this plan is dependent on grant funding to make it work.
What are the benefits of battery storage?
The main benefits of battery storage are submarine cable replacement deferral, demand charge reduction, load shaping charge reduction, energy cost reduction, voltage regulation and outage mitigation.
Do rates vary across OPALCO and if not, could they vary based upon those taking on solar and batteries?
OPALCO does not vary rates based on if you have a microgrid close to your home. As a cooperative, we follow “cost-of-service” model when setting rates and there is no clear correlation between having a microgrid close to your house and your electricity usage. OPALCO is looking out for all the co-op membership regardless of location of our electrical infrastructure and must set rates to benefit the whole of the cooperative.
Key takeaways from my review of the Decatur Study: (PNNL study)
The use of batteries is the key benefit. It extends transmission line life by 3.65 years, along with shape load and reduce peak consumption reducing OPALCO’s cost of purchasing energy from Bonneville. This is correct.
The cost and installation of the solar panels is $829000. The time to break even at $0.107 kwh is close to 15 years. Given this, I would ditch the panels. With the panels gone the site footprint can be drastically reduced, reducing land purchasing costs, as well as associated issues with runoff.
The PNNL study is only focusing on PV solar integration with battery not solar return on investment or Community Solar projects. OPALCO’s community solar was paid for by the investors who purchased shares. There were additional incentives and grants made the return on investment closer to 7 years.
Where are we planning to put the panels?
Phase 1 will cover the east three acres on the county’s public works property. The Phase 2 area is also located in close proximity to our existing substation and solar array. OPALCO is unsure on timing of Phase 1 & 2 as they are dependent on county processes for the two sites.
Will the west 2 acres of the county parcel be maintained as is as a county work area?
Yes.
What would be the possibility of leasing part of the parcel just to the east of where the existing array is located to keep the array in the same plane, extending the array toward the school?
In March 2025 OPALCO acquired this property and is planning to expand solar onto this site.
Will we (Decatur residents) be able to buy into this project?
Yes. Decatur residents will have be able to purchase shares in this project.
Does Decatur get priority at purchasing shares?
Yes – we will give Decatur an early release of shares.
What is in it for Decatur?
As a nonprofit cooperative we are looking at this for what’s in it for all our members. Increased reliability, cost shaving, and support for low-income members. We are also looking at ways to offer specific community benefits to the Decatur Community. Given the proximity of the solar and battery equipment, local Decatur members will have increased power reliability when mainland power goes out.
What can the community do to contribute to moving this solar project forward?
We encourage you to reach out to the SJ County to ensure permitting predictability and engage in meaningful discussions about the benefits of renewable energy.
What panels are being used?
We plan to utilize the panels originally purchased for the Bailer Hill project, so we are not considering alternate technology.
Can we augment the battery packs for increased longevity of service?
Additional batteries are a possibility but would require additional grant funds as battery storage is expensive.
Please outline the maximum scope of the project.
We will share the design when it becomes available. For now assume a 2.1MW solar project. As design and planning start this number will likely be adjusted.
When will landscaping along the road be completed?
A sign went up across from the store saying landscaping would hide the substation, but nothing has been done. OPALCO did not put up this sign. We have been making upgrades to the substation site to include a new shed building that will help with the aesthetics of the site. Having the additional land will make it so a lot of our equipment can be staged elsewhere and kept out of view.
What can be done about roads being maintained and mitigation of dust?
San Juan County is responsible for the County roads. This is a good question for San Juan County Public Works.
How can OPALCO enhance fire safety and preparedness on our unprotected island to benefit Decatur as well as the OPALCO systems?
OPALCO will provide fire mitigation equipment to serve our area.
OPALCO is also researching extending water supply to the Decatur Community.
Why was Decatur chosen for this project after other islands turned it down?
Given its close proximity to the existing solar site and substation. OPALCO is not planning to overburden Decatur with solar generation. The expanded solar will meet the needs of Decatur Island’s future power supply and offers additional reliabiliy to the Decatur community.
Is OPALCO purchasing land beyond the current solar farm for this expansion?
OPALCO purchased tax parcel: 152232005000 on March 6, 2025. Any plans on this parcel will be in Phase 2.
Will the forested area across from residential properties be removed for solar infrastructure?
There would need to be tree removal for this project. OPALCO will make any lumber or chips available to the Decatur Community. We will also have visual landscaping barriers to make the view from the road aesthetically pleasing. Note: while many alder trees exist on the Phase 2 land, many trees were previously harvested.
Why isn’t this project being placed on more suitable farmland on a larger island?
This is a good parcel due to its close proximity to our existing substation and solar site. Every parcel has trade-offs.
What are the environmental impacts, such as runoff and water drainage, from this expansion?
OPALCO is still early in this process and to address this question needs more information. This information will be made available as we get it and during the SJC permitting process.
How will this project affect property values on Decatur?
OPALCO has already begun to better the property by removing derelict vehicles and general clean up. Keeping the property maintained will help hold property values. We don’t anticipate this project affecting property values.
What steps will be taken to mitigate dust and road degradation from construction activity?
OPALCO will work to keep construction activity to a minimum though we can’t guarantee there will be no effects during the project. We will work with San Juan County for road maintenance issues.
Has OPALCO applied to bypass normal permitting processes for this project?
No. OPALCO will be following all SJC permitting processes.
Why are local residents not being directly notified about this development?
Local residents are being informed as promptly as new information becomes available.
Is the technology being used potentially obsolete in 20 years?
No. The technology is proven, reliable, and expected to remain effective well beyond 20 years. The lifecycle of the panels are at least 25 years.
What are the limits of solar farming on Decatur Island?
Solar development is limited by available land, environmental impact considerations, community input, and infrastructure capacity. OPALCO is committed to transparency throughout the entire process and will work closely with the Decatur community.
What are the actual benefits for the Decatur community in hosting a project rejected by others?
Decatur gains enhanced energy reliability, priority access to solar shares, and a local source of renewable energy. OPALCO is committed to transparency, environmental stewardship, and ensuring the project brings long-term value to the community.
What planning is being done to protect critical infrastructure, including the battery installation?
OPALCO is the critical infrastructure in this County with the electrical grid and fiber connectivity. Everything we do is to protect this infrastructure and ensure the safety of the community.
Why is there limited county oversight and planning for outer island infrastructure protection?
This project will follow all SJC permitting processes regardless of location.
Will this project include improved fire protection or EMS support for Decatur?
Fire protection and EMS services are managed at the county level. Again, OPALCO will be providing fire mitigation equipment required for the solar project (including access to water to fight a potential fire in our project area).
How can the county and OPALCO ensure appropriate stakeholder involvement in the planning process?
The best way to ensure your voice is heard is through active participation. We encourage community members to attend OPALCO meetings and San Juan County Council meetings, where your input can directly influence planning and decision-making. OPALCO is committed to an open and transparent process and values the engagement of all stakeholders.
Please provide information on the grant source for this project which I have been told has to do with low-income housing?
The grant funding is for a program to do a utility scale solar project that will benefit low-income community members from Washington State Department of Commerce “Clean Energy Fund 3 Solar”– nothing to do with low-income housing.
How would this benefit low-income community members? Then if there is a discernable benefit, where are these community members located?
The project will add dollars into our energy assist program (about 46% of the current monies put into this program) and serves low-income members throughout the County.
What is the definition of low-income and how many reside on Decatur?
We utilize state based requirements for low-income definition.
On what basis did OPALCO abandon the original siting on San Juan?
Read our three part series on Bailer Hill: https://www.opalco.com/why-local-generation-is-important-part-1-of-3/2025/01/
If OPALCO didn’t do what they said they would on the first solar installation, what makes you think they would keep their word now?
Let us know what we didn’t do and we can discuss in what ways we can do better or make changes.
The power that is generated from solar array: is it only used on Decatur?
From a technical perspective Yes. Electrons flow to the closest use point; however, if there is excess power it would then flow to other areas.
Is there a way to inform the people on Decatur when we are on battery power so we are aware that the power being generated here is being used?
This is a great idea, and we are researching if there is a way to make this automated.
What about putting this project on the other islands?
OPALCO is looking to put multiple microgrids on all the major islands.
OPALCO is also working with San Juan County to ensure more permitting predictability for future solar / battery projects on the other is. OPALCO foresees all the islands needing increases in electricity (30%).
OPALCO is not planning to overburden Decatur with solar generation needed for the rest of San Juan County. We will try to develop a chart so we can clearly communicate the need for future solar generation.
Is OPALCO putting more solar on Decatur than their fair share (i.e. more than the expected load growth of Decatur Residents)?
The amount of solar being proposed for Decatur is NOT more than the expected increase (20-30% in next 10 or so years) in electricity needed for Decatur Island.
OPALCO remains committed to the cooperative principles which emphasizes fairness as a key tenet so we are not asking Decatur to shoulder more of this burden – the potential solar OPALCO could install in both phases of the project would still be less than the expected load growth of Decatur. It will also offer greater power reliability to this community.
Decatur Internet Project – Community Q&A (Fiber)
Do I have to be present for installation?
No
Where do we look for approval on the website?
Once you receive an invitation to the portal, look at your case in the portal. If your status is “customer review” then you are purple on the map and need to approve the route design. Once you approve the route design, you will move to “ready for excavation”, which allows the contractor to schedule you. The contractor will then notify you for scheduling purposes.
Does the battery backup keep the Internet up and running?
Yes. Power on the grid keeps the Internet up and running. Our system being backed up by the proposed solar project keeps our system running longer during an outage. Increased solar is increased reliability for both power and Internet.
Is there any chance ARPA funding will be cut due to Federal cuts?
All communications we’ve received from the Washington Broadband Office indicate that the ARPA construction funds are secure and not subject to withdrawal or reallocation.
Need help getting into your portal?
Email: alib@rockisland.net
When looking at the portal map, some of the people on the purple lines are not interested in fiber. If that is delaying any of this, we need to leave them in the dust. We should give priority to the people who live on the island year-round.
The people who are purple on the map are not holding up anybody else’s projects.
