Orcas Power and Light Cooperative board members spoke with citizens at the Grange to discuss the future of the co-op on July 12. Topics included how they are updating and maintaining the islands’ electrical infrastructure to prepare for planned changes made to the northwest power grid that are meant to help reduce wasted electricity, and how homeowners can maximize personal energy resources, such as solar panels and wind turbines.
OPALCO board member Vince Dauciunas said the northwest grid needs to be updated to minimize the inconsistency associated with the use of solar and wind power. The new system would use digital communications technology, detect changes in output, and use the setup more effectively, for instance, moving excess hydroelectric energy to a place relying on solar panels at nighttime, or regions using wind turbines during the less windy seasons.
Dauciunas presented data that suggests it’s possible for the islands to have a consistent flow of electricity through smart grid, solar, and wind energy technology. The peak power output for wind turbines are in the winter months, and the peak output for solar panels are in the summer months. In theory, when combined with smart grid technology the two systems could provide the consistent power the islands need. The obstacle of lack of space for these energy systems on the island is still an issue that would need to be addressed for this theory to be put into practice.
Despite arguments that electric cars are charged from electricity produced by coal power, Dauciunas said that this notion is untrue in San Juan County. He pointed out that 98 percent of power in the San Juans comes from Canadian hydro-electric, solar and wind energy resources, so by charging an electric car on the islands one is reducing carbon emissions.
Dauciunas also explained that by 2020, it will be more economical to get power from your own solar panels than to buy electricity from OPALCO, and people will save more money because of federal tax credits by using that alternative method. Dauciunas explained that this hasn’t happened yet because islanders are paying 3.4 cents per kilowatt-hour from Bonneville Power Administration. In places like California, which residents must pay 18 cents per KwH and Hawaii, which is 42 cents per KwH, it’s possible to save money by powering homes solely on solar energy because of the high price of power.
Tidal energy was also brought up at the meeting. Dauciunas showed data that suggested there could be three times the potential energy in the Rosario Strait as both island wind and solar energy sources combined. However, he said the tidal turbine technology is currently lacking the investment power to be implemented and developed on the scale needed for the county.
