Submitted by the Orcas Power & Light Cooperative.

OPALCO has been engaging with members this year about our shared energy future and the future of renewables in San Juan County. Regionally and throughout the entire country, industry experts are seeing an increase in demand for energy, but there are not enough fossil-fuel-free energy sources to meet that demand. OPALCO is looking to work toward solving this problem on a local level by utilizing grant funds and incentives to add utility-scale renewable energy projects in San Juan County.

As OPALCO leadership moves forward and works to meet the projected increase in demand for power, feedback from members is crucial. Members are encouraged to give their thoughts on utility-scale renewable energy projects and the trade-offs that come with them. OPALCO is partnering with a research firm to conduct a member survey that will be open until Dec. 12.

OPALCO has partnered with DHM Research, a firm that has been providing opinion research and consultation throughout the Pacific Northwest and other regions of the United States for over 40 years. The firm is nonpartisan and independent and specializes in research projects to support public policy-making. They will be working with a trusted field house partner, KGS, to field the survey via phone or text. The survey will be conducted in two phases: the first phase will run from Nov. 12 through Nov. 26, when KGS will be surveying members via phone or text to reach a representative sample of OPALCO’s membership for statistical relevance. The second phase will run from Dec. 1 through Dec. 12, when any OPALCO member who did not receive a call or text prior can opt in to respond to the survey. This link will be made available on the OPALCO website as well as on social media.

Survey data is anonymous; the member account number is only used to avoid duplicate responses. Members may only fill out one response per member number. Members who receive a phone call or text from KGS asking about a survey can feel confident that it is legitimate. KGS and OPALCO’s survey partner DHM will never ask for confidential member information or billing or card information as part of the survey. If you are asked to reveal sensitive personal information, hang up immediately.

Members are encouraged to attend monthly board meetings to join in the conversation about renewable energy projects, the forecasted increase in energy demand, and how everyone can work together to solve this problem. These meetings take place monthly over Zoom and are an opportunity for member comment and participation. You can request a meeting link by sending a message to communications@opalco.com.