State Rep. Jeff Morris, D-Mount Vernon, is one of the guest speakers scheduled at Orcas Power & Light Cooperative’s annual Ambassadors Legislative Kick-Off meetings.

Morris, who is speaker pro tem of the state House of Representatives, and Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association Director Kent Lopez will talk about what the coming carbon economy will mean to us in the Northwest and give a preview of energy issues that the state Legislature will be addressing in the upcoming session. There will be a question and answer session with OPALCO Manager Randy Cornelius following the presentations.

OPALCO’s new energy efficiency specialist Anne Bertino will also be on hand to introduce herself and answer questions.

— Lopez Island: Nov. 19, 1-3 p.m., Woodmen Hall, Fisherman Bay Road.
— Friday Harbor: Nov. 20, 8:30-10:30 a.m., OPALCO office, 1034 Guard St.
— Eastsound: Nov. 20, 2-4 p.m., OPALCO office, 183 Mount Baker Road.

You don’t have to be signed up for OPALCO’s Ambassador Program to participate. Who is an Ambassador? Any OPALCO member who wants to be kept informed of the issues that have an effect on all co-op members such as: electric rates, energy efficiency, renewable energy, carbon accountability and greenhouse gas emissions may opt into the Ambassadors grass-roots advocacy program.

Refreshments will be served. RSVP to solson@opalco.com or call 376-3537.

OPALCO is a member-owned cooperative electrical utility serving more than 11,000 members on 20 islands in San Juan County. OPALCO provides electricity that is 95 percent greenhouse-gas free and is predominately generated by hydro-electric plants. OPALCO was founded in 1937 to bring electricity to rural islanders.