Host: Washington State Dept. of Commerce
Region: Washington
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Adaptation, Climate Mitigation, Disaster Response / Emergency Management, Renewable Energy
Skills Needed: Project Management, Research, Data Analysis, Data Collection, Communication, Critical Thinking

Service Needs & Plans

This project will help establish and develop the Energy Resilience & Emergency Management Officeʼs (EREMO) ability to respond to various energy supply disruptions.

Energy resiliency is being challenged by climate change, increased cybersecurity concerns, and a changing energy economy. As we transition to clean energy, we need to also address challenges of energy burden and access for resilient communities.

Project Description

We are looking for a way to identify and track renewable energy projects and sites throughout the state. There doesn’t seem to be a comprehensive library of critical renewable infrastructure and the lack of insight into these developing projects makes it difficult to plan for electrical outages, protect renewable energy infrastructure from wildfires, winter storms, and other emergencies, and help decision makers site new resiliency projects like EV charging grids.

The fellow would help develop a repeatable process for identifying and collecting information about renewable energy projects within the state (e.g. solar/wind farms) especially for the purposes of situational awareness during emergency response and for supporting local decision makers about placement of energy mitigation projects.

The desired outcomes of the project would be documentation of best practices and guidance and a data library. Additional outcomes might include a survey to identify these sites, working with GIS experts to develop a map or dashboard, or a renewable energy state profile.

Desired Skills

We are looking for a proactive, intrinsically motivated researcher who is comfortable with project management and willing to conduct informational interviews. GIS or writing skills preferred. Though the Fellow will be working closely with a mentor, they should be comfortable working independently.

Organization & Community Highlights

We are creative, collaborative, and trusted. We cultivate a work environment in which we continuously learn, and we own our work.

Improving the health conditions for people of color, indigenous individuals and communities, and low-income people who continue to be disproportionately harmed by environmental and health hazards is essential to advancing our mission to strengthen communities.

Our organization our offers a great professional development experience as it is filled with highly trained policy staff working on important clean energy, climate, environmental justice, and equity issues. Staff are dedicated to helping our fellows succeed at Commerce and their future goals.

The Energy Office is an interesting place to work because it is a national leader in climate and clean energy policy, and at the forefront of policy on equity and environmental justice issues. Washington is home to wonderful communities, and fellows may join our team from any location in the state and fully participate in agency events and activities.

Our Mission
The mission of the Washington State Department of Commerce is to strengthen communities and grow the economy.

Our Vision
With a broad scope of over 150 programs and partnerships, Commerce has a unique opportunity to create transformative change. Improving the health conditions for people of color, indigenous individuals and communities, and low-income people who continue to be disproportionately harmed by environmental and health hazards is essential to our vision of a more equitable, inclusive, sustainable and resilient economy.

Our key customers include businesses, local governments, community-based organizations and tribes. We also play the crucial role of convening numerous local, state, regional and federal partners and stakeholders, public and private. Together we work to support the Governor’s priorities and achieve shared goals and objectives for the citizens of Washington.

Remote or On-Site Placement
We are creative, collaborative, and trusted. We cultivate a work environment in which we continuously learn, and we own our work.

Improving the health conditions for people of color, indigenous individuals and communities, and low-income people who continue to be disproportionately harmed by environmental and health hazards is essential to advancing our mission to strengthen communities.

Our organization offers a great professional development experience as it is filled with highly trained policy staff working on important clean energy, climate, environmental justice, and equity issues. Staff are dedicated to helping our fellows succeed at Commerce and their future goals.

The Energy Office is an interesting place to work because it is a national leader in climate and clean energy policy, and at the forefront of policy on equity and environmental justice issues. Washington is home to wonderful communities, and fellows may join our team from any location in the state and fully participate in agency events and activities.

Remote or On-Site Placement

Hybrid or On-site preferred, Remote possible