Pea Patch Community Campus: Microgrid Project Survey

Introduction

Powered by a planning grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce, the Pea Patch Community Campus on Orcas Island is exploring the development of a solar + battery microgrid project to offset energy use on the campus and provide reliable clean energy during a disruptive event - such as a power outage or natural disaster - for the 20 new rental homes, and the new Food Bank and Resource Center buildings.

As a component of this project, the Pea Patch team is engaging key stakeholders and project partners to support resilience planning for the microgrid project, including an evaluation of potential community benefits that could inform the system design.

The power generated and stored by this microgrid would be limited to serving the buildings on the Pea Patch campus but could deliver benefits to people in the community in various ways, such as through new capacity for storage of food and critical supplies. Your answers to this questionnaire will help us to find ways to maximize the positive community benefits of this project.

Please respond to this survey questionnaire by 11/1/2024 to be considered. Thank you!

Question Title

* 1. Do you see a prolonged outage or natural disaster impacting the utility grid as a risk to your health or lifestyle?

Yes

If yes, please comment:

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* 2. During a power outage, do you – or your agency/organization – have a reliable source of energy to stay comfortable or continue operations?

Yes

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* 3. What are your anticipated energy needs during an outage or natural disaster? Please check all that apply.

charging cell phones / devices

keeping food refridgerated

staying warm

operating essential medical equipment

Other (please specify)

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* 4. In what ways can you imagine the Pea Patch microgrid project will benefit the community – particularly during a disruptive event such as an outage or natural disaster?

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* 5. Are you interested in participating in an educational workshop or training event to learn more about the proposed Pea Patch Microgrid project?

Yes

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* 6. What is the best way for you to stay engaged with project updates for Pea Patch microgrid project?

newsletters

social media

Email Address (if you want email)

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* 7. Which of the following Pea Patch collaborating organizations are you involved with? Please check all that apply.

OPAL Community Land Trust

Orcas Community Resource Center

Orcas Island Food Bank

None of the above

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* 8. How would you describe your role/s with the organization/s that you are involved in? Please check all that apply.

Client - I use the services of the organization

Staff - I work at the organization

Volunteer - I donate my time to the organization

Board Member - I serve on the Board

Donor - I support the organization

Other (please specify)

None of the above

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* 9. What is your current housing status?

I live in an OPAL home (including rentals)

I'm in the applicant pool for an OPAL home (including rentals)

I'm currently unsheltered or living in marginal housing

I live in a home that I own on Orcas Island

I live in a rental on Orcas Island

I live someplace other than Orcas Island