— from Suzanne Olson for OPALCO —
UPDATE JUNE 9: Last week OPALCO released information on its 2018 Community Solar project. We have an update to the amount of energy produced by the project. It will actually produce approximately 200,000 kilowatt hours annually (much higher than the 5,800 kWh that was printed last week). An average home uses 12,000 kilowatt hours per year.
To find out more visit: https://energysavings.opalco.com/energy-savings/renewable-generation/community-solar/.
Orcas Power & Light (OPALCO) has more than 220 Co-op members who generate their own power. With Community Solar, the rest of us will get a chance to purchase a piece of a big solar generator – at a fraction of the cost to install your own panels – and get a small financial return on our energy investment as a credit on our power bills.
While the financial return isn’t big, the member rewards are significant. Benefits include the opportunity to participate in growing our own local power, building toward more energy independence in the islands and helping to take the first step in creating a Co-op energy storage system in case of emergency.
The first Community Solar project will be built in 2018 on Decatur Island at OPALCO’s substation. OPALCO wants to hear from members about what is most important to them on funding, member participation, and communication. Members are encouraged to take an online survey: www.opalco.com/survey – and the deadline has been extended to Jun. 23.
OPALCO will build and own the Community Solar array, which will generate enough power each year (about 5,800 kilowatt hours) to meet the equivalent needs of 5-6 average island homes for one month. It’s small compared to our whole Co-op’s demand for power, but a big first step in building local, community-owned power. A battery storage bank will be located next to the solar array to store surplus energy and could be used, in a limited capacity, to provide back-up power in case of emergency. Once this first project is up and running, OPALCO may build additional projects and will be looking at the best locations throughout the County. Learn more at https://energysavings.opalco.com/energy-savings/renewable-generation/community-solar/.
I do think Opalco getting into the solar power is a GOOD idea. I read the article posted in the previous comment. In the information given in the article there are what seems to be a lot of holes and gray areas. in that I have a lot to learn about solar, and claim to be no expert by any means.
To finish my thought about Opalco’s entry into the solar business, I installed a solar system at my place and I am amazed at how well it has worked for me, so much so that I am considering adding to it. But if Opalco goes ahead with it’s plan of a more efficient community solar array, I’d rather invest in that instead. Putting the solar panels all together near the transmission lines, and with the voltage regulators so Opalco can have better control of the system makes far better sense and with the buying power of a large group of panels gives more bang for the buck!
Folks, this is nothing but a feel good project. That’s great if that’s what you want, but don’t believe that this is actually beneficial to efforts to reduce energy consumption or greenhouse gases. The power required to build, transport, and install the batteries and panels will never be recouped by the small amount of power produced. We live in a place where solar energy potential is quite low. If we really want to make a difference, let’s look at micro-hydro or tidal power generation, or perhaps wind. The sustainable and viable approach is to use the resources we’ve been blessed with, and sun ain’t one of them. We’d be better off putting dollars into projects to reduce consumption or better yet, let’s have a tiered rate structure that drastically reward using less power. Happy to see solar on islands, so long as we call it what it is and don’t think we’re making an actual difference.
Wouldn’t it make more sense to put the community solar project were the sun really shines? Like EAST of the mountains. Sure, we loose the local aspect, but I wonder how we will ever become energy independent. That takes many more assets than we have or will have here.
Community solar could make economic sense to the “investors” if the rest of us subsidize the project. That depends on the percentage the “investor’ pays of the true cost. By the way, isn’t the huge battery ($1,000,000???) being paid for by a grant (so us tax payers are picking that one up).
Solar is great for reducing CO2, if you don’t include the CO2 created to create the panels etc. Not sure where we find ourselves if that is included.
There is no downside to investigating and considering alternatives to carbon-based generation of electrical energy.
WAIT, we, OPALCO, already do that insofar as Bonneville power is hydro generated. So, what is the point of Solar generation? I suspect that local generation, and diversity of energy sources are the driving motivations. What happens to our power source if other dams are demolished?
The question needs to be whether there is a cost effective alternative to the current source and/or other options such as wind, or tidal and micro-hydro.
I commend OPALCO for investigating alternatives and encourage the Board and management to thoroughly evaluate options before expensing large amounts of our money. Too, conservation is an alternative !!
Islanders need to remember that OPALCO will never be the driver in significant changes to energy usage in the islands. Why? Because their revenue depends on us all using power. Remember when they tacked on to our bills because warm winters reduced expected usage? Want more evidence? How about the fact that simply going to a formula based rate system that drastically rewards those who use the least power and charges those who use the most… clearly there would have to be a fixed fee for second homes/homes that sit empty- but for active homes and businesses, let’s drastically increase the financial incentives to encourage less consumption.
For the record, the OPALCO survey was a bit of a joke- didn’t really offer any opportunity for useful critical feedback- very much designed for those already on board with the project. And thanks to the commenter above who mentioned the grant funded battery piece of this- maybe not best use of tax payer funds.
This solar project is feeling a bit like the broadband effort… uncle OPALCO decides behind closed doors what’s good for the masses, and then pushes it out, carefully managing any opportunity for real input or feedback.
I can’t argue with Malcolm’s assessment at all. I’ve felt that way about the broadband all along. On the subject on solar, all I know is that I now produce between 70-80% of my own electricity, Year over year, for the last two years, with solar. 70-80% for the cost of a new car. Once the solar system was built, there’s nothing needed to maintain it on my end. I’m not saying we’ll have energy independence, that’s not the point. But we can generate a large portion for ourselves and take pressure off of the power system while having some control if and when we need it. If anyone has any questions about my setup, or would like to see it, call me. 376-4050
Great comments and thanks for the feedback. We’ll add these into our survey data gathering and will be reflecting the results back to the membership at the County Fair in August – and then again at a series of open house events in late September. The Community Solar project is generating a lot of excitement and interest – and OPALCO has built good opportunities for member feedback into this planning phase before budgeting starts in the fall.
Malcolm Buseriere – you raise a number of questions and concerns. Please call me at 376-3537 if you’d like to discuss them. Also, please note that the first of a series of rate workshops is happening on June 16th at the Eastsound office, if you want to participate in the process.
If you want to go deeper into efficiency and renewables, check out the charts and detailed info available on our website in Data Insights: http://www.opalco.com/resource-library/#rlfdatainsightsenergyservicespowerefficiencygrid – and there is good info on the Community Solar project online as well. We are always happy to meet with members and answer their questions in person.
Thanks to the about 1,000 people who have already taken the survey. Still time – whether you like the idea or not, we want to hear from you: http://www.opalco.com/survey – by 6/23.