— from Suzanne Olson for OPALCO —
Jim Lett with some of the grandkids in his “crowd.”
Orcas Power and Light Co-operative (OPALCO) Board Member Jim Lett has announced his retirement in order to spend more time with his “crowd of grandchildren.” Lett will retire on January 31, 2018 and the member Election & Governance Committee is seeking applications from candidates from District 3 (Lopez, Decatur, Center and Charles islands) interested in filling the vacancy. Applications are due November 20, 2017.
“We will miss Jim’s thoughtful and steadfast decision making,” said Foster Hildreth, General Manager. “Jim’s focus on safety and fiscal responsibility will continue to serve our co-op membership well for years to come.”
Lett joined the Board in 2009 and served as Board President in 2015-2016. He earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director Certification from the National Rural Electric Association and is an advocate for the cooperative difference. “Anyone interested in running for the OPALCO Board must be willing to take the time to understand and appreciate how a co-op works,” said Lett. “You need to balance running a safe and sound business with the co-op principles that guide us in the care of our membership and protection of our sensitive environment.”
During his tenure, Lett helped to shepherd in some major changes. “I’m most proud of our perseverance and ultimate success in delivering a broadband solution for San Juan County,” said Lett. “Kudos to my fellow Board members, Foster Hildreth, and the whole team at OPALCO for their hard work and ingenuity to bring real world accessibility to everyone – while maintaining healthy financials and keeping the lights on.”
As for OPALCO’s future, Lett is confident that the member Election & Governance Committee is on track to cultivate the most qualified board members and gives top marks to the current Board for their dedication, accomplishment and commitment to serving the membership. “The industry is rapidly changing,” said Lett. “Board members must be sharp to keep up with the coming challenges: building local resilience with the community solar projects and strengthening our system in the islands and on the mainland.”
Applications will be accepted for this open position through November 20, 2017. Candidates must be a resident of District 3 as evidenced by an OPALCO membership with a residential meter in their name. For full requirements, please see OPALCO Bylaws, Article III, Section 2. The Board will appoint this position upon recommendation from the member Elections & Governance Committee (EGC). Candidate will serve the unexpired portion of the term; the next election cycle for District 3 falls in 2019. To apply, please send cover letter and OPALCO Application for Board of Director Positions to the EGC c/o Bev Madan: bmadan@opalco.com.
The deadline for board applicants is November 20, 2017. The application, reference documents and more info can be found in the Resource Library at www.opalco.com.
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. Follow OPALCO: @orcaspower, on Facebook at OrcasPower and online at www.opalco.com.
**If you are reading theOrcasonian for free, thank your fellow islanders. If you would like to support theOrcasonian CLICK HERE to set your modestly-priced, voluntary subscription. Otherwise, no worries; we’re happy to share with you.**
Thanks to Jim and all those who have served and are serving on the Board. It is a very serious job and takes tons of time and effort.
OPALCO’s energy is not 95% greenhouse gas free. This is an illusion fostered by OPALCO. At best it is less than 50% greenhouse gas free (hydro, wind, solar and nuclear). OPALCO is connected to the vast WEEC grid (the Western 1/3 of the US and Alberta and BC, Canada) and that grid’s energy is less than 50% greenhouse gas free energy. New load is met by the highest incremental cost units on the grid and those are coal fired. Conservation reduces the use of coal fired generation!
Arguments that we are near hydro facilities and therefore only get hydro power are false. Most hydro is EAST of the Cascades. Most loads, including OPALCO, are WEST of the Cascades. BC Hydro’s hydro generation is mostly EAST of the Cascades, not here West of the Cascades. Claims that since we have a BPA requirements contract our energy comes from hydro are false. The BPA contract says nothing about the source of electricity that BPA delivers to OPALCO on Lopez Island.
If OPALCO’s claims are taken for true, this simply means that other energy users are saddled with more greenhouse gas producing sources. At the end of the day, we are all in this together. We all must take responsibility for our impacts on the environment, not try to put it off on other energy users.
So, OPALCO, why not own up to the impact that our energy use is actually having and get to work reducing that impact?
We get our power from BPA. BPA’s generation capacity is as follows (2015):
hydro (dams) 69.0%
wind 14.9%
nuclear 3.7%
gas 5.7%
coal 5.3%
biomass & solar 1.4%
Green is good; we’re better than good at being good… at being green.
source: BPA website.
Tom Owens’ discussion infers that coal is used as peaking power. This is the worst possible use of that asset. Coal power is not purchased in small amounts as electric toothbrushes are turned on or even if EVs are charged. Coal is used to meet base load under contract while California solar power rates go negative; they pay utilities to take their excess power.
But coal power has its moments too because of its inflexibility. Starting up and shutting down a coal plant is akin to firing up and shutting down a WWI battleship. It takes time, and a lot of fuel even to keep it at low power (for your toothbrush or EV).
BC Hydro does purchase fossil fuel from the US Western Interconnect when (because coal generation can’t be easily switched on or off as renewables can) US coal generation prices start to move negative (at a great waste of fuel and unnecessary CO2 output). At that point, coal power is the cheapest, not the most expensive “last resort” source, and BC hydro buys some, saving water behind its dams.
But even so, absent the moments of coal power overproduction making it the cheapest source, BC power s 87% hydro, and the normal balance is biomass, wind and natural gas. Not coal.
Whether or not you turn on your toothbrush or charge your EV has no effect on whether or not someone, near or far, fires up a coal plant. As Tom says, it’s price that determines the source of power that utilities sell, and BC Hydro only uses coal power not because it’s the last resort, but because the generator has put it on the Western Interconnect to sell its power for whatever price it can get.
You are not sinning by using an electric toothbrush or driving an electric vehicle.
But Tom is absolutely right that conservation of energy is the best solution. It just isn’t the only solution.