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 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. 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)