Senior Energy Infrastructure Policy Analyst

About PEC
The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) conserves and restores the lands and waters of the Virginia Piedmont, while building stronger, more sustainable communities. Founded in 1972, PEC is a locally based, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit and accredited land trust. At the core of PEC’s approach is a focus on educating, engaging and empowering people to effect positive change in their communities.

Your Role
PEC is seeking an enthusiastic and passionate individual to join our team and advocate for sustainable energy solutions for PEC’s nine-county region and the Commonwealth. The Senior Energy Infrastructure Analyst will work in coordination with PEC’s President, Senior Energy and Climate Advisor, Director of Land Use and other staff to represent the organization in energy policy matters at the local, regional and state and federal level.

With the rapid expansion of data centers in Virginia, sprawling energy infrastructure that’s already been proposed, and likelihood of much more coming, PEC is looking to add capacity to respond to these projects and protect the natural resources and public health of the communities we serve. The selected candidate will regularly track, attend, and submit comments at the energy related hearings and meetings of the Virginia State Corporation Commission and relevant PJM Interconnection committees and others as needed.

The analyst will develop positions on significant areas of energy policy that impact our region and work with PEC staff to ensure those positions are consistently and accurately represented. This includes assisting Land Use staff in evaluating energy generation and transmission related projects as well as projects that require substantial energy infrastructure (e.g. data centers) as necessary. They will also manage the organizational response in utility infrastructure planning and rate cases and to federal and state level permitting. In addition, the analyst will assist in responding to extraction (e.g. uranium, natural gas) and transport (e.g. pipelines) projects that threaten natural resources and public health.

Other responsibilities include participation in the working groups of the Virginia Conservation Network related to energy matters and collaboration with individual partners on statewide and regional campaigns and legislative efforts that further the mission of the organization. This includes developing and advancing policy solutions on key energy/climate related issues (e.g. electric transmission projects, gas generation proposals, natural gas pipeline projects) for our region and assisting in the identification of legislation that may be necessary to accomplish organizational goals.

Areas of Responsibility
The Senior Energy Infrastructure Analyst will report to PEC’s President, working in close collaboration with a broader staff team particularly the Director of Land Use and the Senior Energy and Climate Advisor. Essential functions will include as needed:

● Tracking and advising on energy proposals before the State Corporation Commission; working with PEC President and PEC Director of Land Use to determine how PEC might engage in projects that affect the Piedmont. Actions in this role may include filing public comment or establishing advocacy positions for PEC on individual projects.
● Engaging on utility planning and rate cases to ensure new energy infrastructure proposed is sustainable and cost effective for the ratepayers and is fairly paid for by the data centers driving the increase in our region.
● Tracking and working with GIS team to map transmission line proposals in the Piedmont region and beyond through utility filings and planning forums (i.e. PJM Interconnection, Dominion, electric cooperatives).
● Tracking discussions and planning of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation (CEUR) and the Virginia Department of Energy as it relates to meeting explosive energy demand of the data center industry and developing responses in coordination with the PEC team as appropriate.
● Tracking FERC and Department of Energy for federal policy developments and collaborating with national partners and internally with the PEC President and relevant PEC staff to develop responses as appropriate.
● Tracking proposed electrical generation including natural gas expansion, nuclear fission, nuclear fusion, and other technologies in the Mid-Atlantic with the potential to affect the Piedmont region.
● Collaborating with local, state, regional and national partner organizations and funders on proposed individual infrastructure projects and developing policy to address impacts from energy infrastructure expansion.
● Participate in the Virginia Conservation Network and its Energy Work Group to collaborate in setting state policy priorities and track legislative initiatives in the General Assembly
● Regularly collaborate with the PEC team and ensure internal consistency with related efforts including distributed energy policy solutions and data center campaign efforts.
● Coordinating with the PEC Communications team to draft email alerts, articles, website and social media posts, and content for other publications as needed.

Geographic Focus
This position will be based out of PEC’s headquarters office in Warrenton, VA or in a hybrid manner to be decided jointly with their supervisor. PEC’s hybrid work policy includes a requirement of at least one day per week in the office. Travel to Washington, DC and Richmond, VA as needed is expected.

Required Qualifications
● Must have a technical background in energy policy with a commitment to holding energy providers accountable, advancing sustainable and clean energy policy solutions and environmental justice.
● Familiarity with all aspects of energy production, transmission, distribution and regulation at state and federal levels.
● Strong work ethic and commitment to PEC’s core values, mission and vision.
● Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) principles.
● Bachelor’s degree in energy resources, public policy, strategic planning, economics, engineering, or related field.
● Minimum of three to five years work experience in energy resources planning, public energy policy, class cost of service studies, or related field.
● Excellent and compelling oral and written communication skills.
● Strong interpersonal skills and collaborative abilities, including the ability to work with people of diverse backgrounds and work styles.
● Strong time management skills and ability to work effectively under multiple deadlines.
● Comfortable in a public advocacy role, public speaking and presentation on behalf of PEC.
● Willing to work some weekends and evenings.
● Reliable transportation

Preferred Qualifications
● Graduate degree in energy resources, public policy, strategic planning, economics, engineering, or related field.
● Strong understanding of energy markets including both electricity and fossil fuels and of federal and state regulatory environments for electricity production. Direct experience tracking PJM, FERC, and state utility commissions is preferred.
● A working knowledge of land use planning and land conservation would be beneficial.
● Knowledge of the marketplace for electricity (energy and capacity) in the Mid-Atlantic’s RTO is preferred.
● Ability to analyze complex reports and presentations from utilities to determine planning solutions proposed by the utility to meet future load and how those plans will impact Virginia’s energy policy goals as well as land use decisions.
● Experience and/or interest in public policy, with an emphasis on environmental, conservation, and/or land use issues.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands
This position will be completed in an office environment. Office work requires extended sitting or standing and the use of a computer, keyboard, and mouse. Occasional lifting of materials up to 30 lbs.

Compensation
This position is exempt with benefits. Salary range will be $80,000-90,000 commensurate with experience.

Benefits
PEC offers an outstanding and robust benefits package including:

Two health plans (83% employer paid premium for employee only plan, 80% employer paid for added dependents)
Short- & Long-Term Disability*
Group Term Life*
Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances*
HSA account (with employer match up to $750 per year)
FSA accounts (health & dependent)
403(b) pension plan with employer contribution after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
10 paid holidays
2 floating holidays
PTO leave – 24 days per year, accrued each pay period
1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer at another non-profit or charitable cause
Salary continuation leave for employee or family illness – from 2 to 8 weeks fully paid leave eligibility every 24 months, depending on length of service
Paid bereavement, jury duty and military service training leave
Travel expense reimbursement
Hybrid work environment and flexible work schedules
Cell Phone Reimbursement, up to $75 per month
Professional development support
Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees.
*Indicates that this insurance premium is 100% paid by PEC for the employee’s coverage.

Application Process
Interested applicants should fill out our job application form at pecva.org/apply. Candidates must submit a cover letter and resumé. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.