Multi-Island initiative aims to differentiate record field of nine candidates ahead of board election
||| FROM CHOM GREACEN |||
In response to an unprecedented surge in members running for the Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) board election, a group of concerned members from across the Islands has launched a focused candidate questionnaire. With nine candidates vying for just two positions, the questionnaire seeks to provide voters with the additional insights based on the various perspectives on the cooperative’s future.
The current election cycle arrives amidst significant community dialogue. The questionnaire addresses several high-priority topics, including:
- Strategies for maintaining affordable and fair electricity rates.
- Visions for local renewable energy generation and solar siting.
- The role of energy efficiency and conservation in addressing energy supply crunch.
- Perspectives on addressing inequality and ensuring board accountability to the membership.
“We want to help our community members understand the candidates’ perspectives and priorities on critical issues facing the cooperative,” said Lisa Lawrence, a member of the group and resident of San Juan island. “Our plan is to present the answers we receive in a neutral manner, with minimal commentary, to help members make their own informed decisions.”
The group plans to publish the candidates’ responses verbatim across multiple media platforms. For media with word limits, a summary will be provided alongside a link to the full, unedited responses.
Candidates have until Sunday 3/29 to submit their answers.
The initiative is led by an independent, non-partisan group of OPALCO members dedicated to fostering transparency and informed participation in the cooperative’s democratic process. The group comprises: Ani Henry (San Juan), Bruce Howe-Gregory (San Juan), Claire Waterman (Lopez), Chris & Chom Greacen (Lopez), Ed Suij (Orcas), Eric Youngren (Orcas), Gretchen Allison (San Juan), Jeff Dyer (Lopez), Jennifer Swanson (Shaw), Lisa Lawrence (San Juan), Michael Riordan (Orcas), Ron Zee (San Juan), and Sandy Bishop (Lopez).
The full questionnaire can be viewed online at: OPALCO Board Candidate Questionnaire.
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Thanks for doing this. I appreciate your initiative to harvest information on the high-priority topics that you listed. I look forward to the results of the survey