Meeting Summary for DIA OPALCO Committee Community Forum
Quick recap
The meeting focused on discussing Opalco's proposed solar farm expansion on Decatur Island. The DIA Opalco Committee presented its assessment and concerns about the farm's technical feasibility, impacts on environmental and community impacts. The committee found that Opalco had not adequately addressed these three areas of concern.
The community members who attended discussed the need for comprehensive information from Opalco. In addition, they decided to bring together residents of other islands to review and propose a broader, comprehensive energy plan for the entire county.
They also discussed broader energy initiatives, including rooftop solar and the Switch It Up program, while stressing the importance of community engagement and strategic planning for future energy projects.
Next steps
* Committee: Send the presentation to Opalco requesting them to address the identified concerns at their June 26th meeting
* Karen and Jill: Lead the initiative to organize a multi-island meeting to discuss energy security for all islands. This initiative could lead to the formation of a county-based Citizens Advisory Committee
* Committee: Create a document tracking Opalco's commitments and mitigation plans for both existing and proposed solar installationsCommittee: Review Opalco's scope of work documents and proposed timelines when made available
* Committee: Prepare and submit a statement to County Public Works requesting public hearings on Decatur Island regarding the future development of the public works parcel
* Committee: Update the presentation with a final slide containing 5 key requirements/action items for Opalco
* DIA: Support communications and website updates for the multi-island meeting initiative
Summary
Opalco Solar Farm Expansion Discussion
DIA Opalco Committee chair, Bill Hurley, introduced the purpose of the meeting - to present the Committee's assessment of Opalco's solar farm expansion proposal. Bill discussed Opalco's plans to expand the solar farm and the lease of county-owned land, noting recent changes in the project size and site plan. Opalco has decided to put its planned lease of the 5-acre county property on hold.
Committee Discusses County Land Plans
The meeting began with an introduction of committee members present both in-person and online. Charlie Conway was introduced as a committee member who would provide further information on the project.
Opalco Solar Project Proposal Review
The Committee emphasized the need for Opalco to provide a clear, complete proposal with explicit commitments and verifiable answers to community concerns. The committee suggested that the project's necessity should be evaluated based on factors such as energy security, reliability, and resilience, as well as considering alternative sources such as tidal or wind power. They also proposed exploring options for managing potential power outages, such as enhancing standby power for essential services.
Solar Project Impact Review
Other concerns with an expanded solar farm included increased wildfire risks, the increased stormwater runoff, and clear cutting of potentially healthy woodlands. They also raised the need for assessment of other potentially viable sites on the island, and the impact of land use constraints, technical requirements, and social considerations for different potential locations. The committee believes Opalco owes it to the community to provide comprehensive information and assessments before proceeding with the project.
Solar Array Proposal Impact Analysis
The Committee expressed concerns regarding Opalco's poor vegetation management around the current solar array. It was also unhappy with the lack of community engagement and lack of environmental assessment as part of Opalco's proposed lease agreement for the public works' 5-acre parcel. The Committee noted that no information had been provided regarding the construction phase impacts, noting the challenges posed by the island's primitive infrastructure and the need for effective mitigation strategies.
Community Advocacy for Island Planning
Some of the community's concerns have been expressed to the San Juan County Council and to Opalco. As a result, Opalco has improved the project website with technical information, and a town hall is scheduled for June 26th. The committee emphasized the importance of proactive community engagement and strategic planning rather than reacting to Opalco's proposals.
Opalco Community Engagement Strategy
The meeting focused on discussing the relationship between the community and Opalco. The attendees expressed the need for constructive ideas and research to support the community's stance, urging the group to engage actively with the process. The group discussed hosting an inter-island meeting to develop a comprehensive energy plan, with Angela offering to facilitate transportation and housing for attendees.
San Juan County Solar Initiatives
The meeting focused on solar energy initiatives and energy security in San Juan County. Tom Osterman briefly described the Switch It Up program, a $46 million grant-funded lending vehicle that provides low-interest financing for energy efficiency and solar projects. The group explored the potential for rooftop solar to reduce reliance on the main power grid, with Lopez Island cited as nearly net zero due to individual solar installations.
Citizen Advisory Committee Planning Meeting
The group discussed an inter-island energy security discussion. They discussed organizing a meeting with 2-3 representatives from each island to discuss the idea, before approaching the County Council. A request of the county could be the creation of a citizens' advisory council with membership from Opalco, BPA, county officials, community organizations and island residents to develop a county-wide energy security and resilience plan. The idea would be to generate a comprehensive plan that covered all islands, not a random singling out of one or two islands for energy development. The group emphasized the need for a "RACI" (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, and Informed) approach to ensure the initiative's success.
Opalco Project Community Engagement Strategy
The group discussed the need to balance immediate actions regarding the Opalco project with broader community engagement efforts. The group decided to pursue a two-pronged approach: The committee would continue to work with Opalco on the current solar farm expansion project set for Decatur Island. Other community members would simultaneously move forward with planning for an inter-island energy discussion to take place later in the summer.
The group agreed on the necessity of obtaining complete, accurate information from Opalco, including environmental and technical impacts, with a focus on transparency and community involvement. The meeting was adjourned at 4pm.
