Letter to Editor | Winnie Wins a Finnie

— from Suzanne Olson, OPALCO —

On Earth Day, OPALCO Board Member Winnie Adams was honored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans with a “Finnie” award for her commitment to environmental stewardship. According to the Stewardship Network, “Winnie Adams is considered a champion of local, sustainable power sources among other accomplishments. A retired environmental educator from the Yosemite Institute, she continues to serve the Orcas community as a board member for the OPALCO Cooperative and the affordable housing group, OPAL.”

Winnie was instrumental in founding OPALCO’s M.O.R.E. (Member Owned Renewable Energy) Program and member committee, providing incentives for co-op members who produce renewable power at home, and advocates for local distributed power as an important resource for the future sustainability of the islands.

“Winnie is very deserving of this award,” said Foster Hildreth, OPALCO General Manager. “She is a tireless evangelist for energy efficiency, electric vehicles and conservation, staffing Energy Fairs, Pie Socials, and Tea Talks to energize OPALCO’s membership into action.”

Since 2008, Good Steward Awards have been sponsored by the Stewardship Network of the San Juans in honor of individuals, families, teachers, students and businesses that have demonstrated conservation ethics benefiting our entire island community. Each winner is presented with a “Finnie” award—a glazed ceramic salmon crafted by Crow Valley Pottery.

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is our member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 95% greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937.