Renewable
Energy & Energy Conservation
Conservation Districts were developed in response to the loss of
soil and water resources during the Dust Bowl. The focus is on soil
and water conservation. This includes water quantity and quality as
well as soil quantity and quality. In order to maintain these
resources it is important to address our energy use and
sources.
Many Northwest rivers have been dammed for hydro-electric power
and/or flood control. In many cases these dams are a barrier to
salmon spawning habitat, and the stocks of wild salmon have
decreased dramatically over the last 70+ years (the Elwha dam on
the Olympic Peninsula documents a 95% decrease). There are plans to
breach some dams, and it's unlikely that any new dams will be built
in the future. OPALCO (our local energy co-operative) gets most of
its power from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). The BPA generates most of its
power from Hydro Electric.
In the USA we use about 10% of the energy that we produce to pump,
purify, deliver and reclaim water. This a significant drain on our
energy. The more renewable energy we use to power our own water
supply, the less we need from coal, nuclear and other non-renewable
sources.
As Washington
State grows it is going to need increasing power, and much of that
could come from renewable sources such as solar and wind power.
Here in the islands we are very dependent on sources of power that
are outside our control. We can reduce our dependence by being
energy efficient (using energy efficient appliances), conserving
energy (through better insulation, better design, reducing demand)
and by using solar hot water heating, solar photo-voltaic panels
and wind power. None of these will completely solve our problems,
but combined they could make a big dent in our energy
demands.
There are many solar PV systems around the county: on Orcas Island
Richard & Becky Greaves have the largest privately owned system
in Washington State (30 KW) at their home in Crow Valley, Kaj
Enderlein has a system near West Beach Road. West Sound Marina has
a system on their dock, OPALCO have one at their office in Friday
Harbor. There are even a scattering of wind turbines around.
Eric Youngren of Rainshadow
Solar is well
known locally for supplying micro-hydro, solar PV and solar hot
water heating systems around the county.
Lopez Community Land Trust (Lopez CLT) have been very active in
both creating a renewable energy cooperative and promoting the use
of renewable energy in their next affordable housing project. They
recently conducted a county-wide survey (paid
for in part by a grant through the US Department of Agriculture,
Rural Business Enterprise Grant.) There was a 14% response from
Lopez, 9% from Orcas and 8% from San Juan. 50% of respondents were
willing to invest in renewable energy while 14% currently invest.
Affordability poses the biggest concern/problem. Number 1 interest
was community education. 4th on the list was production of local
power.
Report (PDF
440 KB)
Appendix A (PDF
64 KB)
Appendix A (Excel
36 KB)
Appendix B (PDF
76 KB)
Resources
Database of State Incentives for Renewables &
Efficiency (Federal
incentives listed too)
