NRDC is seeking an Advocate to work with the Sustainable FERC Project team, preferably in our Washington, DC office. The Project is an initiative housed in NRDC’s Climate & Clean Energy Program that represents many national and regional environmental organizations on issues related to the nation’s wholesale energy markets and bulk transmission system. We advocate for policies that will accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, demand response, energy efficiency, and energy storage.
The Project’s current priorities include creating renewables-friendly FERC-regulated wholesale power markets (and opposing markets frameworks that provide unnecessary support to fossil fuels and/or frustrate state clean energy policies), improving grid planning for high levels of wind and solar resources, integrating rooftop solar and other customer-owned resources into FERC-regulated markets, and reforming FERC’s review process for natural gas pipelines. To read more about our recent work, visit www.sustainableferc.org/blog.
The Project Advocate position calls for a combination of leadership and written and oral advocacy skills coupled with the flexibility, diplomacy, organizational and communication skills necessary for successful collaboration across teams and organizations. The Advocate will play an important role in our advocacy on issues implicating billions of dollars in investments and having potentially vast consequences for clean energy. The position is open to individuals with 2-10 years of relevant experience, and can be tailored to some extent to the selected candidate’s seniority and background.
- Conceive and advocate for solutions to achieve the FERC Project’s goals for a low-carbon future.
- Represent the Project coalition and NRDC at FERC and FERC-regulated planning and market regions, with focus on the FERC-regulated grid operator PJM. This work includes drafting regulatory comments and participating in stakeholder meetings and conferences.
- Engage in related advocacy with Congress, states, cities, and other decision-makers.
- Maintain and build new coalitions to support a cleaner energy system.
- Communicate the Project’s message to a wider audience in a manner that translates complex and arcane grid rules into simple and understandable terms.
- Excellent writing and policy analysis skills and the ability to grasp and translate technical power grid issues into plain English.
- Oral advocacy experience and comfort speaking in varied settings, including with media.
- Strategic thinking and strong interpersonal skills.
- Ability to participate in teams that work collaboratively towards shared outcomes.
- Willingness to travel approximately 15% of the time on a predictable schedule.
Preferred
- Experience with electricity regulation and especially FERC and RTO/ISO proceedings or issues.
- Experience in coordinating coalitions of NGO advocates and private/government sector allies.