OPALCO leaders offer updates on Bailer Hill solar and Rosario Strait tidal projects
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
by Jeff Noedel
video by Jeremy Tyler
A SanJuans.Today VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE
DISCLOSURE: This program is a co-production of SanJuans.Today and OPALCO, Orcas Power and Light Cooperative, a non-profit, member-owned co-op providing energy services to San Juan County since 1937. OPALCO provided a portion of the funds to produce this program, but questions were posed at the discretion of SanJuans.Today. And SanJuans.Today independently edited this program without input from OPALCO.
On Tuesday, SanJuans.Today’s Jeff Noedel interviewed two leaders of OPALCO: Vince Dauciunas, Board President, and Foster Hildreth, General Manager.
Here are some of the major questions OPALCO leadership answered:
- Why do we need solar here, and why the Bailer Hill Rd. location?
- What is the status of the Bailer Hill project?
- What has OPALCO asked of San Juan County government that would support more solar projects?
- Why do we need tidal power here, and why the Rosario Strait location?
- How would electricity be generated by the tides? How would the machine work?
- What are the environmental questions and challenges?
We learned a lot in this 40-minute interview, and you will, too.
This is our second interview with OPALCO leadership. To see our February 24 interview published titled “OPALCO predicts electricity demand to increase 50% in next 25 years – wholesale prices also rising,” click here.
WEB PAGE MENTIONED IN THIS INTERVIEW: Quick Fact: OPALCO Tidal Energy Pilot Project
