Two recent OPALCO member surveys give insight into the continuing debate over whether renewable energy is the best solution for San Juan County’s energy needs.
The co-op has faced some public backlash and permitting issues in its recent efforts to get renewable energy projects up and running, namely microgrid projects on San Juan and Decatur Islands as well as a tidal power project in Rosario Strait.
But OPALCO — which collected results in November and December — says th survey suggests that renewable energy does have support from the community at large and that the majority of its members are “highly satisfied” with OPALCO. The importance of these issues to the community was also reflected, with seven in 10 survey participants reporting they were already aware of energy issues before taking the survey.
“As a member-owned cooperative, OPALCO represents all 20 islands we serve,” spokesperson Krista Bouchey wrote in an email. “A survey allowed us to gather input from across our entire membership, ensuring our decisions reflect the broader community’s needs — not just those of a single area.”
OPALCO surveyed almost 1,300 members, with participants weighing in on a variety of topics ranging from local renewable energy development and member satisfaction to permitting and land use.
The co-op partnered with the PNW-based firm DHM Research on the survey, which included two phases: a phone survey of a representative sample of members — 300 to be exact — and an opt-in survey for members who weren’t included in the first phase. The results of the opt-in survey isn’t a representative sample of members since it did not rely on random sampling.
The representative survey findings suggest that many members are on board with renewable energy as long as OPALCO addresses concerns like environmental and public impact:
- Almost half of members strongly support OPALCO’s current renewable energy projects like solar, battery storage and microgrids; 33% somewhat support them, 15% oppose them and 5% weren’t sure.
- Should renewable energy projects receive land use priority? Almost 30% said definitely, 43% agreed as long as permitting requirements are met and 29% disagreed.
- Similarly, although a majority agreed the county should adjust policies to allow more local energy generation, 54% are supportive only if the environment is protected.
- A majority supported building renewable energy projects if extra effort is made to minimize aesthetic and other impacts.
- Few members support placing projects on forest or residential land, instead preferring previously disturbed or industrial sites followed by public non-conservation land and agricultural land.
The survey’s purpose, according to the summary, was to assess general perceptions of OPALCO, test awareness of and reception to new local renewable projects, and understand member priorities for projects.
Some participants, however, complained that the surveys were biased or didn’t offer enough room for participants to fully give their opinions.
“Your survey has inadequate response options and is fraught with survey bias,” said one opt-in participant. “The survey should have included more centered questions, not just ‘black’ or ‘white’ answers. There should always be an option for gray answers.”
In response to such complaints, Bouchey stressed that the survey was developed with a third-party survey team “to frame the needed urgency of the issues while gathering productive input” and that it “was intended to provide information to ensure the members understand the various factors and tradeoffs OPALCO is facing.”
Some of the questions, for example, tracked a change in members’ opinions after being provided with short descriptions of the issue at hand.
One question asked participants about how concerned they are about future power outages. A follow-up question started by stating that while power outages are rare and usually short in the San Juans, the county “projects 30% more electrical use primarily due to population growth, and there is no plan for increased electricity need this growth will bring.” The question ends by asking whether the participant is “more or less concerned than you were before?”
Another question described Essential Public Facilities as “a land use designation that helps get essential facilities built without circumventing environmental permitting requirements” before asking if participants support designating OPALCO’s projects as Essential Public Facilities. In response, 41% strongly supported the designation, 32% somewhat supported it, 22% opposed it and 6% were unsure.
The designation was up for debate last year as the county worked to adopt a new comprehensive plan. Other facilities under the designation include ferry terminals, airports and recycling facilities. Ultimately, the county did add renewable energy generation and energy storage facilities to the designation.
Bouchey said OPALCO’s board will use the survey findings to balance “competing priorities of having low cost, carbon-free and reliable power.”
In an executive summary, OPALCO listed its key takeaways from the representative sample survey, including 1) members’ desire to prioritize protecting the environment, improving reliability and keeping costs down, 2) the importance to members of maintaining/improving service and reducing mainland dependence and 3) that members are split on if they are willing to pay more for renewable energy.
Bouchey said OPALCO doesn’t plan to fund renewable energy projects through rates at this state and instead is looking to grants and the Community Solar model, which allows members to buy shares.
“We utilize various ways to get feedback from the members, and this survey is just one tool they will be looking at,” she said, adding, “The OPALCO Board reviewed ALL the comments, good and bad, and will use that information accordingly.”
— By Sydnee Chapman
Also read in Salish Current:
• “Solar expansion plan for Decatur draws opposition,” Aug. 21, 2025
• “OPALCO moving closer to tidal power,” April 17, 2025
• “Town halls slated on tidal energy project in San Juan waters,” Jan. 17, 2025
• “OPALCO’s Tidal Energy Pilot Project facing early headwinds,” Nov 11, 2024
• “OPALCO proposes to harness tidal power for San Juans,” May 13, 2024