Energy Facilities Siting Specialist - Boston, United States - Dept of Public Utilities

Description

The Massachusetts
Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is responsible for regulatory oversight of investor-owned electric, natural gas, and water utilities in the Commonwealth.

In coordination with the Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), the DPU and the EFSB jointly oversee the siting of major energy facilities in the Commonwealth to ensure a reliable supply of energy, with a minimum impact on the environment, at the lowest possible cost.

The Siting Division of the DPU supports the review and adjudication of energy facility proposals requiring EFSB/DPU regulatory approvals by conducting comprehensive environmental, technical, economic, and legal reviews, consistent with applicable statutes, regulations and precedent.

The Siting Division also participates in siting proceedings conducted by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for interstate natural gas pipelines that are relevant to Massachusetts.

The work of the Siting Division takes place in a rapidly evolving energy landscape, with significant technological, regulatory, and market changes, and a growing emphasis on both mitigating and adapting to climate change, while maintaining reliable, safe, and cost-effective energy supplies vital to the Massachusetts economy.

The Siting Division of the DPU is a diverse team of planners, engineers, economists, lawyers, and environmental specialists that reviews major energy facility proposals requiring EFSB/DPU regulatory approvals.

Our mission is to ensure that approved projects are consistent with applicable statutes, regulations, and policies, and serve the public interest.

The work of the Siting Division takes place in a rapidly evolving energy landscape, with significant technological, regulatory, and market changes, and a growing emphasis on both mitigating and adapting to climate change, while maintaining reliable, safe, and cost-effective energy supplies vital to the Massachusetts economy.

The projects we review are at the forefront of important energy, environmental, and technological trends that are transforming energy infrastructure in Massachusetts.

Siting Division reviews include evaluation of need for the project, alternative project options (such as energy efficiency and distributed energy resources), environmental impacts and mitigation measures, cost-effectiveness, and consistency with state energy/environmental policies, statutes, and regulations.

EFSB/DPU siting authority includes construction permits, exemptions from local zoning, issuance of other state and local permits, rulemakings, advisory rulings and determinations, and compliance oversight.

The Senior Energy Facilities Siting Specialist role is the logical next step in your energy/environmental career path if you are ready to leverage your energy expertise and passion for public service to help the Commonwealth advance its clean energy future.

As the Energy Facilities Siting Specialist you will be a key member of the Siting Division's project teams that review the siting of proposed (and sometimes controversial) major energy facilities such as electric generating and energy storage facilities, electric transmission lines and substations needed for reliability and connecting growing offshore wind resources, intrastate natural gas pipelines, and large LNG storage facilities.

Additionally, you will have the opportunity to represent and advise the Siting Division on the latest developments relating to energy/environmental issues in the Commonwealth.

In addition to reviewing a wide-ranging portfolio of energy projects, you will be instrumental to the Siting Division as a technical expert on its reviews of major energy facilities.

• Advising members of the Siting Division and senior government officials on engineering and technical matters relevant to energy facilities siting policy and decision-making
• Investigating and exploring emerging technologies (e.g. battery energy storage systems, distributed generation), and advising on how these technologies affect the siting process
• Drafting key sections of agency decisions and work products based on case evidence and sound analysis
• Analyzing the need for technical regulations and the development of technical policy
• Conferring with local, state and federal government agencies to gather data and exchange information regarding the regulation of energy facilities
• Representing the agency before legislative bodies, boards, commissions, committees, or federal or state agencies
• Reporting to the Assistant Director of the Siting Division and providing guidance to members of the Division
• Analyzing detailed energy project proposals of utilities and other energy project developers
• Identifying issues in need of exploration during the proceeding, and developing potential solutions and recomm