Bringing local power to the people

Chris Greacen, Islands Energy Coalition

The islands are making impressive gains in food that is locally produced. Working together, we can do the same with electricity, building clean renewable energy generation that is distributed across islanders’ homes, business, and farmlands on the islands. By doing so, we take local, practical steps to increase our energy independence, alleviate global climate change, and lessen the need for nuclear power as well as demands on our region’s limited hydropower resources.

Since 1998, OPALCO members have opted in to the Green Power program, paying a little bit more each month on their power bills to support renewable energy development that mostly came from off-island – mostly windpower from the Columbia Gorge. OPALCO’s supplier, the Bonneville Power Administration no longer offers this off-island renewable energy. OPALCO is proud to unveil a new generation of green power: Member Owned Renewable Energy, or MORE. The MORE Program collects member donations for green power, as before, but now 100% of all donations will go toward supporting local members who are generating renewable energy and are interconnected to OPALCO’s system.

Here’s how it works: if you’ve got a sunny roof, a windy field or a mountain stream, you can invest in solar, wind, or a micro-hydropower generator on your property. At the end of each year you will receive a check from OPALCO reflecting a premium payment for every kilowatt hour of electricity you produced that year.

All of the funds for this program come from OPALCO customers who opt to make a voluntary monetary contribution on their monthly power bill to support local energy production by MORE generators. If you chose to participate, your MORE contributions help those who invest in local renewable energy to leverage state and federal incentives that make investing in renewable energy cost-effective. The program is set up so that your MORE contributions are guaranteed to have an impact: the MORE program distributes funds when electricity is actually generated, incentivizing efficient, effective renewable energy installations.

OPALCO board member Winnie Adams said of the MORE program, “We have the culmination of a great policy from a really thoughtful committee that did a very sound community process, and is a bold continuation of OPALCO’s long-running support of local renewable energy generators. “

How can I join? If you’re already part of OPALCO’s Green Power program, you don’t need to do anything. You will be rolled into the program automatically, unless you opt out by July 31^st. If you’re not part of Green Power program and would like to be, please contact OPALCO to sign up. MORE “Superheroes” can opt into full participation by signing up for a four-cent premium per kilowatt hour for all energy

consumed on their monthly bills. Or you may sign up for 1, 2, 4, 8 or 10 participation blocks per month ($4/block). The more people that sign up, the more local generation we can support. 100% of MORE local power contributions collected by OPALCO are passed to the MORE program.

“My wife and I have been 100% Green Power subscribers for the past 5 years -- and I've been happy to pay the additional amount since I'd like to see this program be stronger,” said Bruce Crebs, a Lopez island woodworker, “but I really think really everyone should pay more for green power because clean energy benefits everybody. The cheapest power for today is not the cheapest power 10-20 years from now. The utilities are looking out for the long-term interest of the public, and with that in mind I think they – and all of us -- should be strong supporters of clean energy.”

For those interested in generating renewable electricity on the San Juans, this is perhaps the best time in history to do so. OPALCO makes it easy to interconnect and ‘spin your meter backwards’ by using renewable energy produced at your home or business to offset electricity consumption. In addition, the MORE program and a separate Washington State solar Production incentive provide payments for every unit of electricity you generate until at least 2020. An investment tax credit can lower your federal income tax by 30% of the cost of a solar electric system. And purchases of renewable energy equipment in Washington enjoy sales taxes exemption. All told, a solar installation in a sunny location can earn a return better than a money market fund – not counting the effect of higher home resale value with solar.

According to Adams, “'Since this is a new program, the MORE committee will welcome any OPALCO members who would like spread the word to introduce this program to other members of the coop.” These members will form “green teams” on each of the islands to help spread the word. If you are interested, please get in touch with the author (Chris -- 468-3189).

Whether you choose to be a MORE local power supporter or a producer or both, we all can help move our energy system towards self-sufficiency. Let’s bring local power to the people!

Below: Timelapse video of 33.8 kW solar PV installation at Common Ground, Lopez Island. Video by Eric Youngren