We’ve been so focused on our Net-Zero Northwest Workforce State Analysis, building decarbonization, and rural clean energy engagement that I barely noticed the lengthening of daylight hours and suddenly spring is here!

I hope that you will join us on April 18 for a webinar that will explore our state-specific clean energy workforce findings for Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington, expanding upon the regional workforce analysis we released last November.

In other news, I was selected as one of four public interest organization members to serve on the Western Transmission Expansion Coalition’s (WestTEC) Regional Engagement Committee (REC). WestTEC is an effort by the Western Power Pool to develop an actionable West-wide transmission plan to support our region’s future energy grid needs. I look forward to contributing to this critical work. 

Eileen V. Quigley
Executive Director

Featured Report: NZNW Workforce Analysis

On November 15, 2023, we released our Net-Zero Northwest (NZNW) Workforce analysis, the region’s first comprehensive clean energy workforce analysis that examines jobs in the buildings, fuels, electricity, and transportation sectors that would be created or displaced if the Northwest were to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. Explore the NZNW Workforce analysis here.

Program Updates: Washington Residential Energy Workforce Gap Analysis

Speaking of workforce, CETI is embarking on a project with Kinetic West, BW Research Partnership, and BDS Planning & Urban Design to conduct a residential energy workforce needs assessment for a contract with the Washington State Department of Commerce.

The study will include a landscape analysis of current and projected energy workforce; mapping of existing workforce pathways, with a focus on outcomes for people historically underrepresented within these jobs; and meaningful stakeholder engagement.

The report will include recommendations for how Commerce might prepare Washington’s workforce to make residential building improvements to meet the state’s emissions goals. This work would also inform the design and implementation of the home energy rebates that Commerce aims to make available later this year.

In Case You Missed It

This month, CETI Research Analyst Ruby Moore-Bloom took a deep dive into the environmental and energy justice implications of clean hydrogen development. Check out the full blog here.

Demystifying Decarbonization

CETI is working on a four-part blog series that discusses podcasts that help unpack different aspects of decarbonization. Check out our first two ‘Decarbcast’ installments:

• Energy Pathways: While we listened to too many IRA-related pods to count, in this blog we describe ones we found compelling about U.S. industrial strategy, green electrolytic hydrogen, and biofuels, that contributed to our work on the Net-Zero Northwest Energy Pathways analysis.
• Rural Clean Energy: The clean energy transition poses particular challenges and opportunities for rural communities. Our second ‘Decarbcast’ blog highlights some of the best podcasts we heard last year that shed light on this nuanced aspect of decarbonization.

Stay Tuned...

In early April, we will release state-specific findings as part of our NZNW Workforce analysis that look at how energy employment in Idaho, Oregon, Montana, and Washington would change on a path to net-zero.

We hope you’ll join us for a webinar on April 18 to dive into the results of this analysis. Registration is open now.
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