Member News

Posted: May 14, 2026 at 2:40 p.m.

OPALCO Receives Conditional Use Permit for the Decatur Island Solar Expansion Project

On Tuesday, May 12, OPALCO was notified that they were granted the Conditional Use Permit for the Decatur Island Solar Expansion Project. The Decatur Island Solar Expansion project is a proposed ~1.6 MW AC Community Solar project. It’s adjacent to OPALCO’s substation and the current Community Solar project that was installed in 2017.

Member News

Posted: March 27, 2026 at 12:25 p.m.

Ravalli Electric Cooperative Announces Kendall Hankins as New General Manager/CEO

Ravalli Electric Cooperative has announced that Kendall Hankins has been selected as the cooperative’s next General Manager/CEO. Hankins will assume the role on April 27, 2026, following the retirement of current General Manager/CEO Mark Grotbo.

Member News

Posted: March 12, 2026 at 11:16 a.m.

Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Receives National Electric Cooperative Purpose Award

Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative, Inc. (CCEC) has been unanimously selected by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Board of Directors to receive the 2026 Electric Cooperative Purpose Award, one of the highest honors in the electric cooperative industry. The award recognizes exceptional commitment to cooperative purpose and measurable impact in improving quality of life for rural communities.

Member News

Posted: March 11, 2026 at 8:18 a.m.

Rock Island Communications Reaches Nearly 7,000 Subscribers and Secures $16.5 Million Grant for Broadband Expansion

Rock Island Communications (RIC), OPALCO’s locally owned internet subsidiary, is celebrating a decade of remarkable growth. Rock Island now has almost 7,000 subscribers across San Juan County. Now the company is gearing up for its next major expansion with a $16.5 million Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) grant (now renamed the Benefit of the Bargain).

Member News

Posted: February 2, 2026 at 9:43 a.m.

Flathead Electric Announces Retirement and Successor

Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC) General Manager Mark Johnson has announced his intention to retire on July 1, 2026, concluding more than 25 years of service to the Cooperative and nearly 13 years as its chief executive. Following a deliberate succession planning process, the FEC Board of Trustees has appointed Chief Operating Officer and Assistant General Manager of Operations Jason Williams to serve as the Cooperative’s next General Manager upon Johnson’s retirement.

Member News

Posted: December 10, 2025 at 8:34 a.m.

Mark Johnson Named as 2025 Businessperson of the Year

Mark Johnson, General Manager and CEO of Flathead Electric Cooperative (FEC), has been named the 2025 Businessperson of the Year by the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce. Johnson was honored at a November 7 event for his steadfast leadership, innovative vision, and deep commitment to community service.

Member News

Posted: July 31, 2025 at 12:13 p.m.

Wildfire Mitigation: Co-ops Battle an ‘Existential Threat’

For West Oregon Electric Co-Op in Vernonia, the threat of trees and limbs falling onto power lines from federal land is not a hypothetical one. That's just what happened to the 3,800-member system in September 2020. “It's inevitable that more trees are going to fall into our rights of way," Kohler says.

Member News

Posted: February 3, 2025 at 12:08 p.m.

What’s next for renewable energy in San Juan County: Part 3 of 3

Part 3 of a 3 part series on renewable energy in San Juan County.

Member News

Posted: January 15, 2025 at 10:20 a.m.

Local Power Generation: Why the Bailer Hill Microgrid: Part 2 of 3

This project, if fully sited, will produce 10-times the amount of energy as current rooftop solar in San Juan County and will be one-sixth of the price for the equivalent amount of energy produced through rooftop solar. The solar panels will track with the sun to maximize production throughout the year. Additionally, OPALCO will partner with local farmers to graze sheep on the site.

Member News

Posted: January 9, 2025 at 10:03 a.m.

Why local power generation is important | Part 1 of 3

OPALCO has been providing reliable power to the islands since 1937. Electricity is an essential and critical component to the modern-day lifestyles powering our hospitals, grocery stores, heating systems, and fire departments. Constant electricity does not come without some tradeoffs. As a cooperative, OPALCO looks to the members to support the grid infrastructure that serves our daily lives. As a community we will need to continue to build and maintain our power system and now more than ever we need to be looking at reliable, renewable carbon free solutions.