Host: Washington State Department of Commerce
Region: Washington
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation, Renewable Energy
Skills Needed: Project Management, Research, Data Analysis, Data Collection,

Remote or On-Site Placement

Hybrid – Staff at the policy office work across the state, including Seattle, Olympia, Spokane, and Ellensburg. We tend to work remotely, but folks in Seattle go into the office weekly and we tend to get together in-person on a quarterly basis.

Service Needs & Plans

In Washington state, there is a growing interest in distributed solar and storage. There are opportunities to advance behind the meter clean energy generation through policy, but doing so requires an understanding of the policies and rate structures of over 60 utilities in the state. This work will also benefit from a more comprehensive understanding of what other states have done to incentivize integration of these technologies. The Washington State Department of Commerce‘s energy policy team is seeking additional capacity to support research and summarize various approaches to compensating distributed energy resources (DERs). This could include summarizing utility tariffs related to net energy metering, cataloguing utility incentive programs, case studies on utility demand response programs, and discussion with various stakeholders throughout the state on DERs.

Project Description

The fellow selected to work on this project would be a member of the energy policy team at the Washington State Department of Commerce. The fellow would work closely with the renewable energy policy lead on advancing distributed solar and energy storage policy in Washington state.

While there will be some flexibility in the projects that the fellow can work on, they will be expected to research policy structures that have advanced behind the meter solar and storage in other states. In particular, the fellow will be expected to support Commerce’s contract with the Washington State Academy of Sciences (WSAS) on the value of distributed solar and storage. This work was directed by the Washington State legislature and will commence July 1st, 2024. While the work may continue after the end of the fellowship in fall 2025, an interim report is due June 30th, 2025. The fellow will be expected to be very familiar with WSAS’ work, provide regular updates to Commerce and potentially the Utilities and Transportation Commission, participate in stakeholder meetings with WSAS, and generally provide requested project support to WSAS staff.

Other duties as assigned may include creating publicly accessible resources on net energy metering tariffs and related research, distributed generation and storage incentives, and battery energy storage siting best practices.

Desired Skills

We are eager to find a fellow who has a strong background in research and analysis, but this past experience need not be quantitatively focused. A basic understanding of renewable energy and/or electric utilities would be beneficial but not required for this position. The selected fellow would need to be highly organized, a self-starter, a clear communicator, and able to synthesize a large quantity information in a comprehensive and accessible way. An ability and interest in participating in stakeholder processes is a plus.

Organization & Workplace Highlights

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 300 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.

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.