Climate Policy: Cap-and-Invest Electricity​/Clean Energy Siting Specialist; Environmental Planner

The Department of Ecology is hiring a Cap-and-Invest Electricity/Clean Energy Siting Specialist (Environmental Planner
4) within the Climate Pollution Reduction Program (CPRP).

• Headquarters Office in Lacey, WA.
• Upon hire, you must live within a commutable distance from the duty station.

• This position is eligible for telework and flexible schedule options.
• A minimum of one day per week is required in the office. This position is expected to be in the office for a full workday every Tuesday.
• Schedules are dependent upon position needs and are subject to change.

• Apply by November 9, 2026.
• Applications submitted after the date above may not be reviewed unless additional qualified applicants are needed.

Washington is advancing some of the most ambitious clean-energy and climate policies in the nation, and we are seeking an Electricity and Clean Energy Siting Specialist to help guide this work. In this role, you will serve as a subject-matter expert at the intersection of energy markets, greenhouse gas regulation, and clean-energy facility siting. You will provide analytical insight, policy interpretation, and technical guidance to support effective implementation of the Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Energy Transformation Act, and the state’s Emissions Performance Standard.

This position offers the opportunity to work across programs and agencies, contribute to major policy decisions, and help shape the state’s transition to a cleaner and more resilient electricity system. If you are motivated by complex clean-energy challenges and public-service impact, we encourage you to apply.

• Serve as a lead resource on clean-energy facility siting, advising on greenhouse-gas requirements under the Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Energy Transformation Act, and the Emissions Performance Standard.
• Provide clear guidance to project developers on how to meet regulatory and reporting obligations related to emissions, electricity imports, and electricity-sector compliance.
• Coordinate closely with teams across Ecology to support efficient, consistent permitting pathways and promote awareness of clean-energy siting and emissions requirements.
• Collaborate with other Washington State agencies to ensure aligned interpretation and implementation of Washington’s clean-energy laws.
• Analyze electricity-sector trends, market structures, and policy proposals to evaluate impacts, develop recommendations, and support rule making and legislative review.
• Create practical tools that help compare technical or policy options, and offer clear, science-based feedback on methods, data, and interpretations used in proposals from utilities, industries, environmental groups, and government partners.
• Serve as Cap-and-Invest policy lead for clean electricity policy related to electricity importer rules, electric power entities, and centralized electricity market development.
• Develop technical guidance, reports, and tools to support regulatory determinations, emissions quantification, and effective implementation of the Cap-and-Invest Program.
• Engage with utilities, Tribes, regulated entities, and other partners to communicate requirements, clarify policy interpretation, and support understanding of program expectations.

For detailed information on how we calculate experience and responses to other frequently asked questions, please visit our Recruitment website.

Nine years of experience and/or education related to the duties of the position, which includes the following:

• Electricity & Emissions Systems Knowledge
  – Skilled with applying electricity-system concepts, greenhouse gas quantification methods, and related analytical…