OPALCO News
Posted December 24, 2019 at 5:47 am by Tim Dustrude
OPALCO Board Listens to Member Concerns, Reconsiders Resolution on Snake River Dams
At the December board meeting in Friday Harbor, 18 co-op members participated in an emotionally charged discussion about Resolution 2-2019 regarding the lower Snake River dams and ocean health.
The Board listened as members shared their opinions and concerns about ocean health, species survival and the role of the Co-op in representing their positions. The Board agreed to put the brakes on Resolution 2-2019 until they can revisit the issues with greater collaboration from the membership. The issue will be on the agenda for the February 20th board meeting in Friday Harbor.
Members of the Orcas Womens’ Coalition (OWC) have been especially engaged in this issue. After participating in the November 20th co-op open house on Orcas, a committee of the OWC met with OPALCO General Manager Foster Hildreth and staff to discuss their concerns and share sources of information. Members also wrote letters to the Board asking them to reconsider the resolution.
“Everyone in this room cares deeply about the health of our environment and a sustainable way forward,” said Board President Vince Dauciunas as he thanked the members in attendance for their engagement in the Co-op. “We welcome your input on this issue and look forward to working with you on these critical issues—as a co-op, we depend on member participation to achieve our mission.”
OPALCO’s primary concerns are for the availability of clean (non-carbon) sources of electricity and its ability to deliver in its promise to provide reliable power to the 20 islands it serves. The Board must have confidence that there are adequate alternate resources for clean and reliable power in the region – including the realities of coal plants shutting down by 2025 and the mandate for all utilities to be carbon-free by 2040 (which requires firming sources of power when the wind doesn’t blow and sun doesn’t shine).
“There is no one solution,” said Hildreth. “These are the most complex and critical issues of our time; it’s going to take the whole community to find the land to site renewables and make the behavior changes necessary to leave fossil fuels behind. Just like when OPALCO undergrounded its system for reliability, we all need to pull together now for local resilience.”
Following the open discussion at the board meeting, a motion was passed: “For the Chair and General Manager to arrange for a meeting of the Board to revisit the resolution to determine what actions are to be taken and to include the greatest member participation.”
The Board will revisit the resolution and have a new resolution on the agenda at its February board meeting. Members are always welcome to attend. To stay informed on OPALCO issues and meetings, please subscribe to the e-newsletter: https://www.opalco.com/newsroom/email-newsletter-sign-up/, follow @orcaspower on FaceBook and Twitter – and read the monthly board meeting agenda and materials posted each Monday before a scheduled board meeting.
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Orcas Power & Light Cooperative (OPALCO) is our member-owned cooperative electric utility, serving more than 11,400 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 97% greenhouse-gas free and is generated predominantly by hydroelectric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937. Follow OPALCO @OrcasPower on Facebook and Twitter.
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Categories: Energy
One comment:
One comment...
Hello and season’s greetings to our overseers of our most important asset we have to live in the modern world on this island: Electrical Power and Fiber Optic High Speed Internet access.
I am here today as a Co-op member to ask the board to honor the Rochdale Principles, particularly the principle that governs our co-op: Democratic Member Control.
And I quote: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Setting policies and making decisions.
The approval of BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION 2-2019 contains various “Scientific Statements” supporting the continued salmon destruction caused by the Snake River Dams.
In summary of that Resolution it is stated that: We oppose the removal of the dams because We don’t believe it will solve the problem for our fish and the food chain and may worsen the situation.
Those mentions of We are not in compliance with the Rochdale Principles: Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. Let me say again Setting policies and making decisions.
I ask why the board has disregarded this requirement to govern, by accepting and I quote, “scientific fact” that has not been subjected to study by owners of this Co Op who, are renowned authorities on the scientific studies that Bonneville pushed on our Board. This island has more experts on those studies that you used to make this proclamation, than any other Eco System. Just to name a few who are members and owners: Ken Balcomb and the staff at Center for Whale Research, Dr Sam Wasser and Dr. Deborah Giles at the UW Center for Conservation Biology, Dr. Howard Garrett and staff at Orca Network, Val and Scott Viers and staff of Orca Sound, All of the staff and students at the Friday Harbor Lab’s Beam Reach Marine Science and Sustainability, Monica Whelanof the Orca Behavior institute, Fred Felleman, The Port of Seattle, Sharon Grace of the Chinook Salmon initiative and these are just a few of our power company owners who had no say in your resolution of “scientific facts.”
In light of the principles of Rochdale which govern our board, I would ask that you make a formal reconsideration of RESOLUTION 2-2019.
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