Response to Column by Richard Gelinas, Ph.D.

Peninsula Light Co. would like to thank Richard Gelinas, Ph.D, for his thoughtful column “Memo to the Board of Peninsula Light Co.” (September 2024).

We invited Dr. Gelinas to our offices for a discussion about PenLight and to explore the ideas he presented. We are pleased to share key information from that conversation with our members.

PenLight is the second-largest cooperative in Washington and the sixth oldest in the United States. As a member-owned, not-for-profit cooperative, each of our members is a part-owner of PenLight, having joined by paying a $100 membership fee — the same amount charged to our founding members nearly a century ago. This cooperative structure allows members to elect an at-large board of directors that represents the entirety of our service territory. In 2025, we will celebrate our 100th anniversary, a significant milestone that reflects the strength and success of our cooperative.

Under the guidance of our board, PenLight has made great strides in enhancing service reliability and member satisfaction, becoming a national leader in these areas. Over the past decade, we’ve strategically invested in infrastructure and technology, including undergrounding nearly 80% of our distribution system and installing more resilient conductors where undergrounding wasn’t feasible. Additionally, we’ve implemented advanced technologies that allow us to remotely manage our system, rerouting power during disruptions to minimize both outage duration and frequency.

PenLight is also keeping a close eye on emerging technologies that could improve grid resilience, from microgrids with solar generation and battery storage to small, modular nuclear reactors. While these technologies are still evolving, our board is committed to making prudent investments in our local grid to maintain reliability at the most cost-effective price.

Recently, Pierce County approached us with a potential project to interconnect a small utility-scale solar array at the Purdy Transfer Station. While still in its early stages, this project holds promise as a valuable opportunity to explore how emerging technologies can better serve our members and improve reliability in the future.

As we look ahead to our 100th anniversary, we remain dedicated to serving our community, investing in grid improvements, and pursuing sustainable energy solutions. Thank you for your continued support as we work to meet the energy needs of today and tomorrow.