Decatur 2025 – May 10th Town Hall – Decatur Island School House
Background information: If the co-op membership wishes for OPALCO to maintain power reliability, we need to site and build local renewable generation and energy storage to offset our projected increase in electricity usage (about 30% over the next 10 or so years). If we don’t offset our projected increase in electric usage with local generation, we will be facing an increase in the likelihood of power blackouts, starting at times associated with winter weather events.
Our community needs to come together to find acceptable locations for these projects. If we keep saying no to local projects – blackouts will be part of the future or very expensive carbon-based fuels that will continue to accelerate climate change.
The energy world is changing dramatically due to climate impacts, carbon reduction legislation, and the transition toward renewable power. The goal of our state and nation is to transition away from fossil fuels and heat our homes and fuel our cars, trucks and ferries using electricity. This lofty goal is proving to be highly challenging.
The hydropower systems that have historically supplied most of the Pacific Northwest’s electricity are at capacity, coal plants in the region are being shut down and natural gas generation comes with a carbon-based financial penalty. Our dilemma is figuring out how to satisfy increased demand for electricity while our supply of carbon-free firm power is shrinking. As more coal plants shut down and are replaced with intermittent resources (solar and wind), energy blackouts are increasingly predicted. Given our remote location, our best bet for clean and affordable firm power is to build renewable generation projects locally.
OPALCO has begun looking at expanding its Community Solar on Decatur Island. Phase 1 on the project will be in partnership with San Juan County to utilize a portion of its public works yard that is adjacent to the OPALCO’s substation/microgrid parcel. By working with County, OPALCO will be able to utilize Department of Commerce grants funds to install ~1.2MW of solar that will directly benefit low-income community members throughout San Juan County.
In March 2025, OPALCO acquired 19-acres adjacent to its current property on Decatur Island. Phase 2 of this project will be expanding the solar site with additional Community Solar shares that members can purchase and benefit from the solar energy. This phase of the project is still in very early planning, and we don’t have many details to share as we are still assessing the site.
OPALCO is not planning to overburden Decatur with solar generation needed for the rest of San Juan County. If we added up all the solar generation currently proposed for Decatur (existing, plus phase I and 2), the total kWh generation doesn’t offset Decatur’s projected increase in electric usage (30%).
OPALCO is committed to early engagement and transparency as we continue the planning process. We started our engagement with Decatur Island residents in February for a first touch as we begin to explore this solar project. We are still working through a lot of details but heard some early feedback on opportunities for this project to directly benefit the Decatur Island Community. Read below for some of our answers to frequently asked questions.
Please continue asking questions and sharing feedback and the team will continue to work through these details and adjusting plans based on your input. Remember, OPALCO is a non-profit cooperative, and we rely on you – our members – to ensure we can fulfill our mission to provide reliable power to everyone in San Juan County. We abide by the 7 cooperative principles and remain committed to serving all of our membership. Below is a list of questions with answers that we’ve gotten to date.
Decatur Community Solar Project – Community Q&A (Power)
Where are we planning to put the panels?
Phase 1 will cover the east three acres on the county’s public works property. The phase 2 area is also located in close proximity to our existing substation and solar array
Will the west 2 acres of the county parcel be maintained as is as a county work area?
Yes.
What would be the possibility of leasing part of the parcel just to the east of where the existing array is located to keep the array in the same plane, extending the array toward the school?
In March 2025 OPALCO acquired this property and is considering expanding solar onto this site but that will be Phase 2 and will entail more design, planning, and permitting at a later date.
Will we (Decatur residents) be able to buy into this project?
Yes. Decatur residents will have purchase priority.
Does Decatur get priority at purchasing shares?
Yes – we will give Decatur an early release of shares.
What is in it for Decatur?
As a nonprofit cooperative we are looking at this for what’s in it for all our members. Increased reliability, cost shaving, and support for low-income members. We are also looking at ways to offer specific community benefits to the Decatur Community. Given the proximity of the solar and battery equipment, local Decatur members will have his increase power reliability when mainland power goes out.
What can the community do to contribute to moving this solar project forward?
We encourage you to reach out to the SJ County to ensure permitting predictability and engage in meaningful discussions about the benefits of renewable energy.
What panels are being used?
We plan to utilize the panels originally purchased for the Bailer Hill project, so we are not considering alternate technology.
Can we augment the battery packs for increased longevity of service?
Additional batteries are a possibility but would require additional grant funds as battery storage is expensive.
Please outline the maximum scope of the project.
We will share the design when it becomes available. For now assume a 2.7MW solar project.
When will landscaping along the road be completed?
A sign went up across from the store saying landscaping would hide the substation, but nothing has been done. Our team isn’t sure what this is referring to but will look further into this.
What can be done about roads being maintained and mitigation of dust?
During construction, OPALCO will perform dust mitigation services on the roads disturbed by our OPALCO and our contractors.
We are happy to work with the community on outreach to the county to encourage ongoing road maintenance and dust mitigation.
How can OPALCO enhance fire safety and preparedness on our unprotected island to benefit Decatur as well as the OPALCO systems?
OPALCO will provide fire mitigation equipment to serve our area.
OPALCO is also researching extending water supply to the Decatur Community.
Why was Decatur chosen for this project after other islands turned it down?
Given its close proximity to the existing solar site and substation. Again, OPALCO is not planning to overburden Decatur with solar generation needed for the rest of San Juan County.
Is OPALCO purchasing land beyond the current solar farm for this expansion?
OPALCO purchased tax parcel: 152232005000 on March 6, 2025. Any plans on this parcel will be in Phase 2.
Will the forested area across from residential properties be removed for solar infrastructure?
There would need to be tree removal for this project. OPALCO will make any lumber or chips available to the Decatur Community. We will also have visual landscaping barriers to make the view from the road aesthetically pleasing. Note: while many alder trees exist on the Phase 2 land, many trees were previously harvested.
Why isn’t this project being placed on more suitable farmland on a larger island?
Due to close proximity to our existing substation and solar site.
What are the environmental impacts, such as runoff and water drainage, from this expansion?
OPALCO is still early in this process and to address this question needs more information. This information will be made available as we get it and during the SJC permitting process.
How will this project affect property values on Decatur?
OPALCO has already begun to better the property by removing derelict vehicles and general clean up. Having better maintained property will result in better wildfire mitigation in the project.
What steps will be taken to mitigate dust and road degradation from construction activity?
OPALCO will work to keep construction activity to a minimum though we can’t guarantee there will be no effects during the project.
Has OPALCO applied to bypass normal permitting processes for this project?
No. OPALCO will be following all SJC permitting processes.
Why are local residents not being directly notified about this development?
Local residents are being informed as promptly as new information becomes available.
Is the technology being used potentially obsolete in 20 years?
No. The technology is proven, reliable, and expected to remain effective well beyond 20 years.
What are the limits of solar farming on Decatur Island?
Solar development is limited by available land, environmental impact considerations, community input, and infrastructure capacity. OPALCO is committed to transparency throughout the entire process and will work closely with the Decatur community.
What are the actual benefits for the Decatur community in hosting a project rejected by others?
Decatur gains enhanced energy reliability, priority access to solar shares, and a local source of renewable energy. OPALCO is committed to transparency, environmental stewardship, and ensuring the project brings long-term value to the community.
What planning is being done to protect critical infrastructure, including the battery installation?
OPALCO is the critical infrastructure in this County with the electrical grid and fiber connectivity. Everything we do is to protect this infrastructure and ensure the safety of the community.
>Why is there limited county oversight and planning for outer island infrastructure protection?
This project will follow all SJC permitting processes regardless of location.
Will this project include improved fire protection or EMS support for Decatur?
Fire protection and EMS services are managed at the county level. Again, OPALCO will be providing fire mitigation equipment required for the solar project (including access to water to fight a potential fire in our project area).
How can the county and OPALCO ensure appropriate stakeholder involvement in the planning process?
The best way to ensure your voice is heard is through active participation. We encourage community members to attend OPALCO meetings and San Juan County Council meetings, where your input can directly influence planning and decision-making. OPALCO is committed to an open and transparent process and values the engagement of all stakeholders.
Please provide information on the grant source for this project which I have been told has to do with low-income housing?
The grant funding is for a program to do a utility scale solar project that will benefit low-income community members from Washington State Department of Commerce “Clean Energy Fund 3 Grid Modernization”– nothing to do with low-income housing.
How would this benefit low-income community members? Then if there is a discernable benefit, where are these community members located?
The project will add dollars into our energy assist program (about 46% of the current monies put into this program) and serves low-income members throughout the County.
What is the definition of low-income and how many reside on Decatur?
We utilize state based requirements for low-income definition.
On what basis did OPALCO abandon the original siting on San Juan?
If OPALCO didn’t do what they said they would on the first solar installation, what makes you think they would keep their word now?
Let us know what we didn’t do and we can discuss in what ways we can do better or make changes.
The power that is generated from solar array: is it only used on Decatur?
From a technical perspective Yes. Electrons flow to the closest use point; however, excess power would then flow to other areas.
Is there a way to inform the people on Decatur when we are on battery power so we are aware that the power being generated here is being used?
This is a great idea, and we are researching if there is a way to make this automated.
What about putting this project on the other islands?
OPALCO is looking to put multiple microgrids on all the major islands and since Decatur is the island that serves all of San Juan County power it is a good fit for a more robust microgrid.
OPALCO is also working with San Juan County to ensure more permitting predictability for future solar / battery projects on the other is. OPALCO foresees all the islands needing increases in electricity (30%).
Again, OPALCO is not planning to overburden Decatur with solar generation needed for the rest of San Juan County. We will try to develop a chart so we can clearly communicate the need for future solar generation.
Is OPALCO putting more solar on Decatur than their fair share (i.e. more than the expected load growth of Decatur Residents)?
The amount of solar being proposed for Decatur is NOT more than the expected increase (30% in next 10 or so years) in electricity needed for Decatur Island.
OPALCO remains committed to the cooperative principles which emphasizes fairness as a key tenet so we are not asking Decatur to shoulder more of this burden – the potential solar OPALCO could install in both phases of the project would still be less than the expected load growth of Decatur.
Decatur Internet Project – Community Q&A (Fiber)
Do I have to be present for installation?
No
Where do we look for approval on the website?
Once you receive an invitation to the portal, look at your case in the portal. If your status is “customer review” then you are purple on the map and need to approve the route design. Once you approve the route design, you will move to “ready for excavation”, which allows the contractor to schedule you. The contractor will then notify you for scheduling purposes.
Does the battery backup keep the Internet up and running?
Yes. Power on the grid keeps the Internet up and running. Our system being backed up by the proposed solar project keeps our system running longer during an outage. Increased solar is increased reliability for both power and Internet.
Is there any chance ARPA funding will be cut due to Federal cuts?
All communications we’ve received from the Washington Broadband Office indicate that the ARPA construction funds are secure and not subject to withdrawal or reallocation.
Need help getting into your portal?
Email: alib@rockisland.net
When looking at the portal map, some of the people on the purple lines are not interested in fiber. If that is delaying any of this, we need to leave them in the dust. We should give priority to the people who live on the island year-round.
The people who are purple on the map are not holding up anybody else’s projects.
