— from Suzanne Olson for Orcas Power & Light —
More than 1,200 members responded to an online survey about Community Solar, measuring preferences, appetite, and collecting narrative comments. In a nutshell, the membership is very interested in Community Solar so long as it doesn’t affect rates. A request for proposals was published in September for solar installers interested in designing and building the project.
Orcas Power & Light Cooperative’s (OPALCO) community solar project will give co-op members an opportunity to purchase units of the large solar array and receive monthly bill credits based on the production of their units. The project will be constructed at OPALCO’s substation on Decatur Island. Planning is underway in 2017 with construction beginning in 2018. Project details such as cost, return on investment, and number of units available will be published by January, which is when we expect members can begin to purchase units.
[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]A request for proposals was published in September for solar installers interested in designing and building the project.[/perfectpullquote]
What OPALCO learned from the survey is that members would like more info about solar in general and the project details. Members want frequent project updates, primarily on the website. Of those surveyed, 61 percent would invest at least $150, 35 percent would invest at least $450, and others wrote in amounts in the thousands. Members are motivated primarily by financial factors: return on investment, out-of-pocket costs and affordability compared to rooftop solar. Comments show support for carbon reduction, community sustainability, and creating a model for others. Project aesthetics were less of a concern; see full survey report 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.
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Is the County schools solar project connected with this? what’s happening with that one?
Margot, The Community Solar for Schools program installation was completed in 2015. Four solar arrays were installed at the public schools on Lopez, Orcas, San Juan, and Shaw Islands, and are generating energy for the schools.
Educators from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) have conducted Solar Education Training for Champion Teachers from all the islands schools and many teachers have already started incorporating energy efficiency and renewable energy programs into their classrooms.
The forthcoming Community Solar program is designed for homes and businesses who want to buy a share of the community array. Solar energy production is credited proportionately to member electric bills. The array will increase local energy production by over 20%, helping improve local energy resilience.
While many co-op members are interested in solar energy, only a fraction of residential rooftops are suitable for hosting a solar array, and many members want to preserve their shade trees. Even if the sun is good, many people rent, don’t want the solar array to effect the home aesthetic, want to start small, or can’t afford the upfront costs of rooftop solar. Community Solar gives co-op members more options for right-sizing solar to fit their budget.