Senior Policy Advisor

The Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition (NIPPC) is seeking an individual to fill a Senior Policy Advisor role. The Senior Policy Advisor will advise the organization and help lead its policy work on a variety of competitive electricity market topics. The advisor will report to the Executive Director and engage directly with the Board of Directors. General areas of responsibility will include providing advice and developing strategic plans for state and regional engagement in industry activities and policies in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana; monitoring and reporting on market and government-related activities in the Western Interconnection that may affect the organization’s membership; participating in and leading collaborative work with other aligned organizations; and drafting regulatory and legislative briefs to file or present to policymakers and other stakeholders. Depending on the advisor’s expertise, specific topic areas of responsibility may include state legislation related to electric utility and generator regulations and incentives; carbon markets; and wholesale power trading. The advisor’s general portfolio of responsibilities will include a mixture of such topics, and candidates with background in or more topic areas are encouraged to apply.

Mission Statement 

NIPPC is a membership-based advocacy group representing electricity market participants in the Pacific Northwest and adjacent Intermountain region. NIPPC has a diverse membership including independent power producers and developers, electricity service suppliers, transmission companies, marketers, storage providers, and others. NIPPC is committed to fair and open-access transmission service, cost effective power sales, consumer choice in energy supply, and fair, competitive power markets in the Northwest and adjacent markets. 

NIPPC Organization 

NIPPC is a 501(c)(6) non-profit trade association supported by annual membership fees and revenue from the organization’s Annual Meeting held in September. 

NIPPC Membership 

NIPPC members have invested billions of dollars building and operating renewable and thermal power plants in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana that total thousands of megawatts of capacity. In total, about one-quarter of the current generating capacity in the region is owned and operated by non-utility private power producers, most of it by NIPPC members. Currently, the following companies are members of NIPPC: Apex Clean Energy, Avangrid Renewables, Aypa Power, Beveridge & Diamond, Bracewell, Brookfield Renewable Power, Calpine, Capital Power, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Clearway Energy, Constellation, Cypress Creek Renewables, EASE, EDF Renewable Energy, EDP Renewables, Enel North America, esVolta, Invenergy, Lakeridge Resources, Morgan Stanley, NextEra Energy, NRG Energy, Obsidian Renewables, Pattern Energy, Perennial Power, Pine Gate Renewables, Q Cells, Sapere Consulting, Shell Energy, Sun2o, and TransAlta.

Key Responsibilities 

Policy Development – Develop recommendations for NIPPC about policy positions to take in light of the organization’s objectives and market and government-related developments. Subject to iterative direction from the membership and the Executive Director, carry out adopted policy recommendations; solicit and incorporate input from members in the course of a policy engagement; draft, edit, and circulate written materials as needed.

Membership and Internal Engagement – Contribute to managing NIPPC’s three standing committees—Consumer Choice, Market & Transmission Access, and Utility Procurement—as well as other committees, as required to support legislative efforts. Attend and participate in NIPPC’s three in-person meetings each year, in addition to monthly virtual Board meetings. Collaborate regularly with NIPPC consultants, attorneys, and lobbyists.

External Policy Engagement – Engage with entities that may include state regulators, state legislators, regional transmission organizations, the Bonneville Power Administration, and/or the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, among others, in order to keep these organizations aware of NIPPC’s purpose, contributions, and objectives. Build relationships with other industry partners and advisors to ensure NIPPC’s expertise affects regional policy decisions and that members are kept informed of industry innovations and knowledge. Attend industry, regulatory, and legislative forums as needed to carry out NIPPC’s work within the advisor’s portfolio.

Key Traits and Position Details

• Demonstrated knowledge and experience with the Pacific Northwest electric power market.
• Demonstrated industry reputation and network. 
• Working knowledge of and experience with state, regional, and/or federal regulators. 
• Committed to competition in power markets and customer choice.
• Technically conversant on industry and market issues and topics, with relevant educational or vocational background such as law, economics, engineering, or public policy. 
• Excellent writing and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to bridge disagreements.
• Willingness to perform this role as an independent contractor, not as an employee, joint venture, or partner of the organization. 
• Agreement to not render similar services for a competing organization while under contract. 
• Option to structure role as full-time or as part of a candidate’s larger consulting practice.
• Competitive compensation commensurate with experience.
• Location: Flexible, as most work is performed remotely, but in or near Portland or Seattle is preferable.