Duties
As the Department of Ecology’s lead expert on climate and energy policy, you will help advance the State’s Cap-and-Invest program and related climate initiatives. You will drive the development of policies and guidance, drawing on deep knowledge of technical, economic, and policy aspects of state climate and energy programs — especially the Cap-and-Invest program, Climate Commitment Act, and other related policies. Your role will also involve identifying overlaps, conflicts, and opportunities among climate and energy programs with various state agencies to improve alignment, efficiency, and overall impact.
You will play an instrumental role in reviewing, analyzing, and developing state and federal legislative and regulatory policies. This includes conducting policy and fiscal analysis during the state legislative session, drafting legislative proposals, and meeting with legislators, legislative staff, and the Governor’s Office to advance initiatives that support and strengthen the Cap-and-Invest Program’s goals. It will also include analyzing and planning state response to changes in federal regulations and associated state responsibilities.
Other duties of the Cap-and-Invest Climate and Energy Policy Lead include:
- Use policy analysis and program expertise to develop and assess strategies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and applying related regulations.
- Develop regulatory measures, plans, and procedures for controlling greenhouse gas emissions, and prepare studies on the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of proposed standards and control measures.
- Tackle complex, sensitive, and emerging issues involving new technologies, public concerns, government priorities, Tribal interests, overburdened community impacts, costs, and business perspectives.
- Guide the creation and review of policy and legislative proposals affecting Washington’s climate programs, and recommend practical, creative solutions for implementation.
- Analyze how federal and state laws, rules, and policies affect climate regulations, and perform evaluations to ensure compliance and support potential program linkage with other jurisdictions and develop regulations and other measures for achieving greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
- Design tools to compare technical and policy options, and provide scientific critique on measurement methods, policy interpretations, and proposals and input from a broad range of interested parties.
- Collaborate with subject matter experts, external parties, and Ecology management to identify challenges and develop effective and creative policy, technical, and administrative solutions.
- Engage with experts, interested parties, and researchers at the state, national, and international levels to gather information and technical analysis, and review external studies to support the integrity of the Cap-and-Invest Program.
- Consider environmental justice, Tribal, and general public concerns in the development and implementation of state climate policy, particularly in relation to the Climate Commitment Act and Cap-and-Invest program.