Success Story: Sucia Island State Park
Sucia Island State Park, 2 miles from Orcas Island in the San Juan's has been using photovoltaic (PV) solar power year-round since 1988. For over two years PV has been used to power well pumps and for electricity needs at parks shop and staff housing. The savings gained has allowed park staff to complete other pending projects, such as the new garage addition to the park's shop (pictured below). There are 9 composting compact toilets on the Island, which eliminates the need for septic tanks and pumping fees. These toilets protect the water system from pollution. Fans powered by PV energy keep guests happy by removing odors from the toilets.
As sustainability role models to other parks, Sucia's next project is developing a reverse osmosis system (due later this year). Reverse osmosis is used to purify water and remove salts and other impurities in order to improve the color, taste, or properties of fluids. Reverse osmosis will purify salt water to conserve well water.
The visionaries behind Sucia Island's sustainability projects are two graduates from The Evergreen State College's Energy Systems program. Dave Caster is a Parks Ranger and Area Manager of San Juan Marine Area and Gary Sale is a Construction and Maintenance Project Specialist. Gary lives in the only house (PV powered) on the island with his family.
Sucia Island is intended to be a role model for other parks to get off the grid. The sustainability plan for Parks and Recreation states that Parks will, "where feasible, develop renewable/distributed electricity generation". Work has begun in over six parks that are currently testing applications for wind and solar energy. It is the job of Park's Sustainability Coordinator Billie-Gwen Russell to help facilitate the introduction of these technologies to park staff.
Billie-Gwen remarked on some of the actual savings achieved at Sucia Island Sate Park: "Three years ago they added a large PV array which has saved two staff member a weekly boat run and lots of lifting to move 40 gallons a week of gasoline which was used to keep generators pumping 6 wells." Clearly Washington State Parks and Recreation is well on their way to "leading by example" in the adoption of renewable energy technologies.
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