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Outgoing OPALCO board president urges San Juan County to treat electric power as essential infrastructure
Summary
Vince Tacunas, stepping down after 15 years with OPALCO, told the San Juan County Council that statewide clean-energy mandates and permitting processes risk leaving the region short of reliable generation and transmission; he urged the county to partner with OPALCO, remove local barriers to local generation and storage, and advocate for clearer state and federal permitting and funding.
The council set aside time to recognize Vince Tacunas as he completes his term on the OPALCO board. Tacunas used the moment to outline a wide-ranging warning about energy planning in Washington state and to urge local action.
Tacunas (OPALCO board president) summarized state milestones including the Clean Energy Transformation Act and the Climate Commitment Act and said planning assumptions imply large increases in electricity demand that will require extensive new generation, storage and transmission. "If Washington badly misses these build out goals, the result is not just an embarrassment in policy... It means the state likely gets the worst of all worlds: higher greenhouse gas emissions, higher electric rates and greater adequacy risk," he said.
He urged the county to "recognize electric power as essential infrastructure, work with OPALCO as a planning partner, modify the code and policy barriers to block local generation, storage and grid facilities, require honest infrastructure analysis in the action plans supporting the comprehensive plan and climate element, and advocate...for the permitting transmission and most importantly, the funding necessary to keep the county reliable." (paraphrase based on discussion.)
Council members thanked Tacunas for his service and many agreed with his framing that planning and permitting challenges at the state level create risks that local governments and utilities must address collaboratively.
The remarks were both a retirement recognition and a policy appeal; council did not take formal action but several members said they would continue conversations with OPALCO and state representatives.
