Mission
The mission of the Washington State Clean Energy Leadership Council is “to create a clean energy leadership initiative that will set the path to leverage Washington's energy infrastructure and make Washington a hub for clean energy technology and a leader in the creation of green jobs and the development, deployment, and export of clean energy technologies and services."
The Washington State Clean Energy Leadership Council was created by Senate Bill 5921, which was introduced by Senator Phil Rockefeller and signed by Governor Christine Gregoire in 2009.
(Read full text of SB 5921)
Responsibilities of the CELC
The role of the Clean Energy Leadership Council is to develop strategies and recommendations for growing Washington's clean energy sector and positioning Washington State as a national leader in clean energy development and policy. The primary goal of the Council will be to develop a plan for bringing economic development and job creation to the state through the clean energy sector.
The Council will contract with a national expert in energy policy and energy markets to assist the Council in conducting a strategic, statewide analysis. This analysis will identify the clean energy opportunities where Washington can provide national leadership and grow the state’s economy. The Council will present to the Governor its final report with strategic analysis and recommendations to the Governor by December 2010.
Strategy report for the Governor
As per SB 5921 Section 7, the strategic analysis will:
- Identify clean energy sectors where Washington has competitive advantage or emerging strengths.
- Evaluate of Washington’s business environment for clean energy, including regulatory and policy environment, as compared to other industry leading regions and states.
- Evaluate Washington’s potential to reach the top 10 in the nation for developing and deploying clean energy technologies in certain sectors of the clean energy economy that can be a major export driver.
Strategic recommendations in the Council’s report: “must provide direction for positioning each clean energy segment identified to provide national leadership and must include a delineation of clear, specific outcomes for each segment to achieve.”
Focus will be on clear steps to be taken to implement the strategic plan, including specific institutional mechanisms at the Department of Commerce and other public agencies.
The report will include recommendations on how to:
- Build consistent policy frameworks that provide stability to encourage investment through a combination of incentives, regulation, taxation, and use of government purchasing power to build viable markets;
- Increase Washington's ability to obtain available competitive federal funds;
- Develop effective public-private partnerships to develop and deploy new technologies needed to grow key industry segments;
- Direct needed investments in universities;
- Foster a supportive business climate to attract and grow clean energy companies;
- Promote joint use facilities, demonstration facilities, and signature research centers that fuel industry growth;
- Shape policy and regulation to boost market access;
- Identify and meet crucial infrastructure needs and capital and financing requirements.
Clean Energy Leadership Council Structure
SB 5921 established the composition of the Council membership between public sector, utility and private sector representatives. The Governor appointed the members in September 2009.
The CELC welcomes input, ideas and feedback from all interested stakeholders. You’re encouraged to sign up for periodic updates. To contact Council staff, please click here. You’re also welcome to visit our blog to see what others are discussion and join that dialogue.
The cost of contracting a national expert to conduct the report on strategic analysis and recommendations is funded by a combination of funds from the Washington State Department of Commerce, the US Department of Energy and by contributions from Council members’ organizations. CELC members are not compensated in any way for their participation on the Council.
