Report to the Legislature - Washington's Green Economy, Department of Commerce (June 30, 2020)
Summary
Washington's Green Economy, a June 30, 2020 report to the Legislature from Research Services of the Washington State Department of Commerce, with Lisa Brown as Director, pursuant to Chapter 415 Laws of 2019 and HB 1109 Section 129(38). The executive summary states that the department convened the Green Economy Working Group on the development of the state's green economy in energy, water, natural resources and agriculture. The table of contents lists recommendations and opportunities for agriculture, forestry and materials, water, maritime, energy and energy-transportation sectors, plus appendices on working group members, higher education resources and workforce training resources.
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Washington's Green Economy
Pursuant to Chapter 415 Laws of 2019 - HB 1109 Section 129(38)
June 30, 2020
RESEARCH SERVICES REPORT TO THE LEGISLATURE
Lisa Brown, Director
2.0
Acknowledgments
Washington State Department of Commerce
Lisa Brown, director
Mark Barkley, assistant director, Local Government
Division
Michael Furze, assistant director, Energy Division
Chris Green, assistant director, Office of Economic
Development and Competitiveness
Barbara Dunn, director, Communications
Alice Zillah, section manager, Research Services
Washington State Department of Commerce
Sean Ardussi AICP, PMP 360-720-5039,
sean.ardussi@commerce.wa.gov
RESEARCH SERVICES: LOCAL GOVERNMENT
DIVISION
1011 Plum St. SE
P.O. Box 42525
Olympia, WA 98504-2525
www.commerce.wa.gov
For people with disabilities, this report is available
on request in other formats. To submit a request,
please call 360.725.4000 (TTY 360.586.0772)
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY
Table of Contents
Executive Summary ................................................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................. 5
Green Economy Working Group Process................................................................................................................. 9
Working Group Recommendations and Opportunities .......................................................................................... 11
Overarching Recommendations and Opportunities............................................................................................... 12
Agriculture Sector Recommendations and Opportunities ..................................................................................... 19
Forestry and Materials Sector Recommendations and Opportunities ................................................................... 27
Water Sector Recommendations and Opportunities ............................................................................................. 33
Maritime Sector Recommendations and Opportunities ........................................................................................ 38
Energy Sector Recommendations and Opportunities ............................................................................................ 41
Energy - Transportation Sector Recommendations and Opportunities ................................................................. 52
Appendix A: Green Economy Working Group Members ........................................................................................ 56
Appendix B: Higher Education Resources ............................................................................................................. 58
Appendix C: Workforce Training Resources .......................................................................................................... 73
Appendix D: Higher Education Research and Development ................................................................................ 107
Appendix E: Acknowledgments ........................................................................................................................... 136
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 1
Executive Summary
Overview
Communities and regions in Washington must respond to climate change by reducing emissions and
preparing for a resilient future characterized by adapting to the current and foreseeable effects of climate
change. Our state has strengths in key sectors that can be leveraged to help our state and others respond to
the environmental challenges being experienced with climate change. Identifying the opportunities and
creating connections are essential to simultaneously meeting the state's greenhouse gas emissions targets
and achieving economic success.
To address requirements detailed in ESHB 1109 (see page four of this report), the Washington State
Department of Commerce convened a working group regarding the development of Washington's green
economy based on the state's competitive advantages in energy, water, natural resources and agriculture. The
Green Economy Working Group was composed of a broad group of stakeholders, each with a unique
perspective on the green economy and the sectors identified in the proviso. The wide range of expertise of the
group resulted in the identification of multiple highly promising opportunities throughout the state to respond
to the wide range of environmental challenges we face.
This final report serves as a foundation from which to build Washington's green economy. This foundation
must also include ongoing work on industrial symbiosis, which is the collaboration between public and private
businesses to foster the use of industrial by-products, including energy, water, materials and logistics.
Additionally, this foundation will also include updates to the State Energy Strategy and a commitment to
rethink traditional infrastructure financing models.
In its first meeting, the working group recognized that the requirements for this effort were very broad, with
many opportunities for green economic development being cross-cutting in nature. Building upon the diverse
range of expertise in the room, the working group proceeded to develop recommendations and opportunities
by examining energy, agriculture, forestry and building materials, and water as key sectors of the green
economy, across which all of the other required elements of the project were related.
The report's recommendations and opportunities are organized by these key sectors, using the legend below
to demonstrate which of the required elements from the legislative proviso each particular recommendation
addresses. In many cases, recommendations are cross-cutting and address multiple requirements, which is
indicated in the report through the use of one or more of the icons provided in the legend.
Total
Recommendations and opportunities Recommendations Legend
Investment opportunities in higher education, research and development,
20
and workforce training
How state government may serve as a clearing house, or economic center,
18
to support private investments
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 2
Total
Recommendations and opportunities Recommendations Legend
Opportunities for integrating technology in energy, water, natural resources,
19
and agriculture
Create resource efficiencies including water and energy conservation and
13
smart grid technologies
Policies at the state and local government level to promote and accelerate
22
development of the green economy in Washington state
Key Findings or Highlights
The Green Economy can be an important element of the economic recovery.
The Green Economy Working Group began its efforts prior to the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic,
directing its attention to strengthening the economy through a focused examination of key opportunities and
competitive strengths where Washington state is a recognized leader. Today the state of the economy has
drastically changed with significant unemployment, and both public and private sector economic impacts that
present immediate and urgent challenges that must be addressed. The group identified some ways that
emerging opportunities in the next economy may support the green infrastructure and economic development
opportunities:
Trends and demand for the integration of information and communications technologies and artificial
intelligence will increase.
Interest in local sourcing and supply will be an emphasis as supply-chains adapt to be less reliant on
globalization.
Increased value placed on local production may result in opportunities in Washington state to produce
more goods and services locally.
The working group felt strongly that elements of green infrastructure and economic development identified
during this process have a potential to make a meaningful contribution to an economic recovery in the near-
term while also responding to the environmental challenges brought about by climate change.
Recommendations are interrelated across sectors.
The Green Economy Working Group considered the strengths and capabilities of Washington state's private
industries, research universities and workforce in developing a set of 44 recommendations and opportunities
that hold strong potential to grow the state's economy while addressing environmental challenges. At its final
workshop, members of the working group felt strongly that there were elements of all of the recommendations
that could be acted on in the near term, and that could become an important component of any economic
recovery. While some of the recommendations may represent longer-term objectives, there was strong interest
to not lose sight that progress towards these objectives involves near-term action and progress that can help
with the economic recovery of today while making significant progress to objectives addressing broad
environmental challenges from climate change.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 3
Furthermore, the working group recognized potential in examining these recommendations as sets of
potentially interrelated opportunities that are not mutually exclusive to each sector as examined in the report.
As these recommendations are acted upon, an effort should be made to consider areas of overlapping
opportunity and objectives.
Addressing areas of economic inequality and access to opportunity is more imperative now than ever before.
Inequalities related to race and income were identified as priority areas of focus for future green economic
development at the outset of this process, with communities throughout the state still struggling to realize the
benefits of a recovery from the previous recession. Faced with a new economic emergency, these inequalities
will become only more pronounced. A concerted effort needs to be made to focus green economic
development capacity in traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities and identify the barriers
that prevent these communities from fully benefitting from emerging economic opportunities in sectors of the
green economy.
Workforce development is a key strength for the green economy.
Washington state has a strong presence in its community and technical college system, including dedicated
centers of excellence with an emphasis on building a future workforce that will be needed for the green
economy across all sectors examined in this report. A key finding of this effort is that in many instances,
programs are in place throughout the state that are either currently providing the skills for the green economy,
or are well-positioned to do so, both in terms of expertise as well as in geographic reach in communities
throughout the state. To ensure that opportunities in the green economy are available to traditionally
underserved and underrepresented communities, efforts will need to be made to evaluate programs to ensure
equitable access to opportunity. Increasing Washington's workforce development capacity may be an effective
way to prepare communities throughout the state to contribute to, and benefit from, a sustainable economic
recovery.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 4
Introduction
Background
In March 2019, the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) released its report "Growing the Green Economy in
Washington State: Exploring an Eco-Nomic Center."1 The report focused on the energy, water and
agriculture/forestry sectors by emphasizing activities, opportunities and policy recommendations that have
strong potential for supporting Washington state businesses in these areas.
Following on this effort, ESHB 1109.SL (38) tasked Commerce with convening a work group to identify
resources and opportunities that would support development of Washington’s green economy. The Legislature
appropriated $150,000 for fiscal year 2020 to do this work.
What Does the Legislation Say?
The 2019-21 Supplemental Operating Budget, HB 1109.SL (38), directed Commerce to convene a work group
regarding the development of Washington’s green economy based on the state’s competitive advantages. The
work group must:
Develop an inventory of higher education resources, including research, development and workforce
training to foster green economic development in energy, water and agriculture.
Identify investment opportunities in higher education research, development and workforce training to
enhance and accelerate green economic development.
Make recommendations for green economic development investment opportunities and how state
government could serve as a clearinghouse, or economic center, to support private investments and build
the green economy in Washington to serve national and global markets.
Identify opportunities for integrating technology in energy, water, natural resources and agriculture, and
create resource efficiencies, including water and energy conservation and smart grid technologies.
Recommend policies at the state and local government level to promote and accelerate development of
the green economy in Washington state.
Submit an interim report with the work group recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees
by Dec. 1, 2019.
Submit a final report with the work group recommendations to the appropriate legislative committees by
June 30, 2020.
Recent Related Efforts Commerce is Leading
Commerce is currently working to update Washington’s State Energy Strategy with two broad goals in mind.
First, the strategy must identify pathways to meet the state's updated greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction
1 "Growing the Green Economy: Exploring an Eco-Nomic Center," Association of Washington Cities, Center for Quality Communities,
2019.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 5
targets. Second, the strategy must align the pathways with the requirements of the state's 100% clean
electricity law (Clean Energy Transformation Act2).
While achieving those goals, the strategy must maintain competitive energy prices that are equitable for
consumers. A key connection point for the green economy work is the requirement that the strategy increase
competitiveness by fostering a clean energy economy that enables GHG reductions and economic
advancement through jobs and workforce development.
Aligning the green economy work with current efforts around industrial symbiosis represents another
significant opportunity. Industrial symbiosis is the use by one company or sector of underused resources from
another company. The broadly defined resources include waste, byproducts, residues, energy, water, logistics,
capacity, expertise, equipment and materials.
Creating new connections to use these assets would keep resources in productive use longer. The systems
approach to a more sustainable and integrated industrial economy would result in recommendations for
specific projects and research and development efforts and would fit with the green economy mandate to
identify sustainable business opportunities for Washington.
Key Recommendations and Conclusions
The Green Economy can be an important element of the economic recovery.
The Green Economy Working Group began its efforts prior to the effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic,
directing its attention to strengthening the economy through a focused examination of key opportunities and
competitive strengths where Washington state is a recognized leader. Today significant unemployment has
drastically changed the state of the economy, and both public and private sector economic impacts present
immediate and urgent challenges that must be addressed. The group identified some ways in which emerging
opportunities in the next economy may support the green infrastructure and economic development
opportunities:
Trends and demand for the integration of information and communications technologies and artificial
intelligence will increase.
Interest in local sourcing and supply will be an emphasis as supply chains adapt to be less reliant on
globalization.
Increased value placed on local production may result in opportunities in Washington state to produce
more goods and services locally.
The working group felt strongly that elements of green infrastructure and economic development identified
during this process have a potential to make a meaningful contribution to an economic recovery in the near-
term while also responding to the environmental challenges brought about by climate change.
Recommendations are interrelated across sectors.
The Green Economy Working Group considered the strengths and capabilities of Washington state's private
industries, research universities and workforce in developing a set of 44 recommendations and opportunities
that hold strong potential to grow the state's economy while addressing environmental challenges. At its final
workshop, members of the working group felt strongly that there were elements of all of the recommendations
that could be acted on in the near term, and that could become an important component of any economic
2 https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/ceta/
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 6
recovery. While some of the recommendations may represent longer-term objectives, there was strong interest
to recognize that progress towards these objectives involves near-term action and progress that can help the
economic recovery of today while making significant progress to objectives addressing broad environmental
challenges from climate change.
Furthermore, the working group recognized potential in examining these recommendations as sets of
potentially interrelated opportunities that are not mutually exclusive to each sector as examined in the report.
As these recommendations are acted upon, an effort should be made to consider areas of overlapping
opportunity and objectives.
Addressing areas of economic inequality and access to opportunity is more imperative now than ever before.
Inequalities related to race and income were identified as priority areas of focus for future green economic
development at the outset of this process, with communities throughout the state still struggling to realize the
benefits of a recovery from the previous recession. Faced with a new economic emergency, these inequalities
will become more pronounced. A concerted effort needs to be made to focus green economic development
capacity in traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities and identify the barriers that prevent
these communities from fully benefitting from emerging economic opportunities in sectors of the green
economy.
The working group established principles of equity at an early stage of the process, and made a deliberate
effort to consider economic, racial, as well as geographic inequalities throughout the development of the
report's recommendations. Points for consideration in this regard are included in many of the report's
recommendations, with some addressing the issues directly. The intention is for the principles of equity to be
considered as each recommendation is being acted upon, ensuring that communities that have particularly
been underserved and underrepresented in the past are empowered to benefit from intentional efforts to grow
the green economy in Washington state.
Workforce development is a key strength for the green economy.
Washington state has a strong presence in its community and technical college system, including dedicated
centers of excellence with an emphasis on building a future workforce that will be needed for the green
economy across all sectors examined in this report. A key finding of this effort is that in many instances,
programs are in place throughout the state that are either currently providing the skills for the green economy,
or are well positioned to do so, both in terms of expertise as well as in geographic reach in communities
throughout the state. To ensure that opportunities in the green economy are available to traditionally
underserved and underrepresented communities, efforts will need to be made to evaluate programs to ensure
equitable access to opportunity. Increasing Washington's workforce development capacity may be an effective
way to prepare communities throughout the state to contribute to, and benefit from a sustainable economic
recovery.
Throughout the process, members of the working group and other stakeholders indicated that in many cases,
there were insufficient new workers to fill in for an anticipated wave of retirements, potentially leaving critical
roles inadequately filled in public water works, energy utilities, agriculture and forestry among others. This
represents an urgent need that must be met, and is an opportunity to prepare Washington state residents to fill
the workforce needs of tomorrow.
There is a recognized divide between leading research and development, and practitioners in the public and
private sectors.
An area that was frequently cited as a significant issue is the difficultly in transferring a technology, tool, or
process from leading areas of research and development, to implementation in the field. There are many
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 7
obstacles to implementation of innovative technologies with potential to make a difference in establishing a
green economy. These can be institutional, legal, economic, or political in nature. Throughout this report are
recommendations to establish incubator models, or feasibility studies that may help bridge this divide and
bring into implementation effective new technologies, tools and processes that will help to strengthen
Washington's green economy.
The transportation sector represents a tremendous opportunity and warrants its own dedicated process.
The working group felt strongly that a more robust examination of the transportation sector is warranted,
despite it not being a particular focus for this work as established by the legislative proviso. The working group
was supportive of a similar effort to the Green Economy process being conducted in the future specific to the
transportation sector, given the great opportunity this represents in reducing statewide greenhouse gas
emissions.
The transportation sector will also be covered in depth as part of the state energy strategy process. Commerce
is leading the 2021 state energy strategy process that will lay out a plan to set the state on a path to
decarbonization, describing the most urgent short- and long-term actions needed to reach our state's
aggressive carbon neutrality and emissions reductions targets. The process of developing the strategy is
structured around a deep, technical dive into high priority areas and sectors. The transportation sector is one
of those. The process will lead to the identification of recommended policy actions -- including programs,
regulations, incentives, and tools -- to be included in the state energy strategy itself. This data-driven,
stakeholder-supported process and product will provide Washington a path to decarbonize the transportation
sector as we work towards long-term climate targets.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 8
Green Economy Working Group Process
To develop recommendations and a report for the Legislature by June 30, 2020, the group met in person for
three group workshops between October 2019 and January 2020, with significant efforts undertaken in
subgroups outside of these to contribute expertise to selected areas of the green economy. The group
contributed directly to the development of this final report and participated in a virtual workshop in May 2020
to finalize the work and discuss ways in which this report can help shape Washington's changing landscape in
the green economy.
The Green Economy Working Group began this effort with a review of the broad set of recommendations and
opportunities outlined in the Association of Washington Cities' 2019 report "Growing the Green Economy:
Exploring an Eco-Nomic Center."3 Through a facilitated process, these recommendations provided the initial
building blocks for this process and helped to start a meaningful conversation about strategic ways to address
the environmental and economic challenges Washington state is facing today and in the future.
Who Served on the Green Economy Working Group?
The complete list of Green Economy Working Group members is listed in Appendix A: Green Economy Working
Group Membership. The group consisted of members from 27 organizations representing diverse interests in
Washington state related to the economic sectors examined in this effort. Work group membership draws
from state government, educational institutions, private industry, regional government, local government, tribal
government, nonprofits, labor, and energy and utility providers.
Definition and Purpose Statement
Following the initial meeting, a subgroup of members met separately to examine the results of the facilitated
group process and put together a working definition for "green economy." A separate member subgroup met to
build on the previous work to establish a purpose statement for the group.
Working Definition of "Green Economy"
Climate change is driving ecological, economic and social disruption across the globe and in Washington
state, a leader in scaling existing and creating new solutions in response to these challenges. This presents
significant economic opportunities, particularly for state businesses, workers, organizations and communities.
Washington’s green economy makes, moves and uses goods and services for a cleaner footprint. The green
economy produces strong and innovative businesses, good jobs, health, prosperity and resilience for all
communities throughout the state.
Green Economy Working Group Purpose Statement
The purpose of the Green Economy Working Group is to identify opportunities and resources and to develop
policy recommendations that grow and transform Washington state’s economy and serve as a model and
leader in the international marketplace.
Success in this will include cross-cutting policy recommendations in higher education, workforce training,
public and private research, innovation, and greater opportunities for strategic investment. These
3 "Growing the Green Economy: Exploring an Eco-Nomic Center," Association of Washington Cities, Center for Quality Communities,
2019.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 9
recommendations will be paired with specific strategies to deploy these tools and opportunities in an equitable
and accessible manner for people and entities throughout the state.
Principles of Equity
Members of the Green Economy Working Group determined to make an effort to consider issues around equity
as part of this effort, with a subgroup formed specifically to consider how to address this issue.
The Green Economy Working Group recognized that a comprehensive examination of equity issues would not
be possible considering the time and available resources for the project. Instead, the group committed to
promote equity as an overarching principle that must be considered for each recommendation in this final
report. To achieve this, the group developed the following principles of equity to not only inform the work of the
group, but for decision-makers to consider as recommendations for implementation in the final report:
Acknowledge that many past policies and decisions created, and presently maintain, a system of
injustice.
Follow the leadership, knowledge and expertise of communities disproportionately impacted,
particularly regarding issues of equity.
Use best practices in racial and economic analysis to drive decisions.
Use focused strategies that create benefits for all.
Create net environmental and economic benefits for communities of color and people with lower
incomes.
These principles are intended to guide the implementation of green economy efforts resulting from
recommendations in this report to ensure future economic benefits are directed to those with the greatest
needs, and that those with the least resources do not disproportionately bear environmental burdens or costs.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 10
Working Group Recommendations and Opportunities
In its first meeting, the working group recognized that the requirements for this effort were very broad, with
many opportunities for green economic development being cross-cutting in nature. Building on the diverse
range of expertise in the room, the working group began to develop recommendations and opportunities by
examining energy, agriculture, forestry and building materials, and water as key sectors of the green economy
across which all of the other required elements of the project were related. The report organizes key
recommendations and opportunities by these sectors, and uses the legend below to demonstrate which of the
required elements are specifically addressed. In many cases, recommendations are cross-cutting and address
multiple requirements, indicated through the use of one or more of the icons in the legend.
Total
Recommendations and opportunities Recommendations Legend
Investment opportunities in higher education, research and development,
20
and workforce training
How state government may serve as a clearing house, or economic center,
18
to support private investments
Opportunities for integrating technology in energy, water, natural resources,
19
and agriculture
Create resource efficiencies including water and energy conservation and
13
smart grid technologies
Policies at the state and local government level to promote and accelerate
22
development of the green economy in Washington state
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 11
Overarching Recommendations and Opportunities
The Green Economy Working Group considered opportunities across many sectors of the future green
economy and determined that many of these were overarching in nature, encompassing elements that applied
to more than one of the sectors being examined as part of this report. These recommendations and
opportunities highlight issues related to equity and social justice, workforce development and general
infrastructure needs in the context of meeting the emerging environmental challenges as a result of climate
change.
O-1 Center racial equity as investments and priorities are made in the green economy.
The Green Economy Working Group adopted the following set of principles to apply as a lens and guide the
future implementation of all recommendations developed within this report:
Acknowledge that many past policies and decisions created, and presently maintain a system of
injustice.
Follow the leadership, knowledge and expertise of communities disproportionately impacted,
particularly regarding issues of equity.
Use best practices in racial and economic analysis to drive decisions.
Use focused strategies that create benefits for all.
Create net environmental and economic benefits for communities of color and people with lower
incomes.
A proactive effort must be made to ensure distributional equity of economic opportunities as part of the green
economy; these opportunities should be available to all. The first of eight strategies that was developed by the
Governor's Poverty Reduction Workgroup is to "Understand structural racism and historical trauma and take
action to undo their harmful effects in state policy, programs and practice." A large body of research draws a
direct, causal relationship among structural racism, historical trauma and the creation of policies, programs
and practices that result in inequitable outcomes.4 The causes and consequences of poverty are experienced
most profoundly among indigenous people and people of color nationally and in Washington state. Ensuring
that all benefit from the green economy requires an approach that strategically centers indigenous, black and
brown people in the implementation of recommendations that result in racial equity. State agencies must be
leaders. Several current efforts will help support state agencies on these efforts. The recently established
Office of Equity, which was started as a task force in 2019 legislation and funded as a full office in 2020, is
designed to promote access to equitable opportunities and resources that reduce disparities, including racial
and ethnic disparities and improve outcomes statewide across all sectors of government. The Environmental
Justice Task Force will provide state agencies recommendations and best practices for incorporating
environmental justice priorities into state agency work.
Racial equity must be included in all policy and budgets. As state revenues are secured for new or existing
programs to support growth in key elements of Washington’s emerging green economy, communities most
4 Reducing Poverty and Inequality in Washington State, 10-Year Plan for the Future (Coordinating Draft), Poverty Reduction Workgroup,
January 2020.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 12
affected by poverty and pollution must be a part of decision-making, particularly decision-making that affects
them and to be positioned to benefit substantively from these decisions. The state must ensure that these
communities not only benefit from the service delivered, but are poised and supported in sharing in any new
economic opportunities. Washington must commit to promoting and supporting policies and programmatic
efforts that prevent any adverse impacts and ensure that these highly impacted communities benefit from
green economic development strategies through:
Capacity building in these communities to organize their interests and participate in public processes
Allocating decision-making roles to these historically underrepresented groups proportionate to their
interests and sufficient to make an impact
Identification of barriers to participation in the green economy to understand where resources can
most effectively move the needle in terms of benefitting these communities.
O-2 Prioritize investments and identify barriers for traditionally underserved and
underrepresented communities in participating in the future green economy.
Washington state should build green economic development capacity in traditionally underserved and
underrepresented communities and identify the barriers that prevent these communities from fully benefitting
from emerging economic opportunities in sectors of the green economy.
Washington state should consider a dedicated center or board to provide funding for building equitable
economic development capacity in these communities to:
Provide technical assistance and support integration of equity principles into green economy actions
for state agencies as well as the community and technical colleges implementing workforce programs.
Provide technical assistance for emerging green economy businesses to ensure equity, such as worker
and community ownership models, recruiting diverse candidates, community benefit agreements.
Advance solutions proven at the local level statewide including:
Priority hire
Development of green job internships and apprenticeships
Financing tools for access to capital
Support Just Transition program development and policies to ensure pathways for workers in
declining industries into emerging green industries5
Assess the needs of and provide support for Washington state's tribal governments that are bearing a
disproportionate impact related to traditional resource-based economies such as fisheries and forestry.
Have the Washington State Office of Equity provide oversight over green economy initiatives in the
form of a biannual review of initiatives' effectiveness.
Use tools, such as the city of Seattle's Racial Equity Toolkit, to develop quantitative metrics to inform
policy choices, implementation tools and key investments and work in the green economy.
Implement the recommendations of the Healthy Environment for All Act (SB 5489) as originally
introduced to:
5 Just Transition Alliance
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 13
Create a state definition of environmental justice.
Require use of tools like the Environmental Health Disparities Map in the Washington Tracking
Network and similar equity analysis.
Explore methods for incorporating the precautionary approach to decision making regarding equity.
O-3 Understand the full economic potential of Washington's future green economy.
Washington’s strengths in the green economy have the potential to benefit communities throughout the state.
A greater understanding of how growth in the state’s green economic sectors can benefit different regions
throughout the state will help inform future decision-making.
To demonstrate the degree to which local economic benefits may be realized as a result of statewide efforts,
Washington state should lead an effort to conduct a comprehensive economic impact analysis on
recommendations in this report. A better understanding is needed regarding the economic benefits for all
Washington state communities if green economy recommendations are implemented. There is a real
opportunity for both rural and urban communities to benefit throughout the state.
Ensure this economic impact analysis specifically takes into account the distribution of benefits and
burdens of the policy intervention or budget allocation by census tract to compare against "Highly
Impacted Communities (CETA)”6 and “Opportunity Zones” and by demographics like income, race,
unemployment and education.
Develop metrics to measure poverty, pollution reduction and other aspects related to quality of life and
the economy.
Include an analysis demonstrating the economic effects of climate change on key sectors of the
natural resource economy, using frameworks established by the UW Climate Impacts Group and
detailed in the U.S. Global Change Research Program's Fourth National Climate Assessment.7
6 RCW 19.405.020(23)
7 U.S. Global Change Research Program's Fourth National Climate Assessment, Chapter 24: Northwest
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 14
O-4 Expand broadband internet access statewide.
Quality broadband internet access is a basic utility that drives job creation, promotes innovation and expands
markets for businesses that are key to the success of the green economy in Washington state. Broadband
internet access is also a necessary precursor to training the workforce of the future in the energy, agriculture,
forestry and water sectors, particularly to extend these opportunities for underserved communities and
populations.
High-speed internet access must be considered as a precursor requirement for technology-dependent emerging
industries in the green economy. To ensure that economic opportunities created as part of the emerging green
economy are available to all communities, consideration must be made regarding the availability of broadband
internet in communities that do not currently have access.
Invest in the robust broadband internet infrastructure system that Washington state needs to support
emerging green economic industries of the future, ensuring that access is equitably extended
throughout the state, specifically to economically disadvantaged communities, particularly for minority
populations and communities of color.
O-5 Invest in the workforce of the future - Prepare Washington’s workforce of the future to be leaders in
the nation in addressing emerging environmental challenges.
All sectors of the economy are experiencing challenging labor market conditions and workforce shortages
intensified by increased retirements and the regular need to replace and replenish human resources. As an
example, 32% of current waterworks operators are projected to retire within five years.8
New employees entering the workforce, as well as those seeking to update their skills, need critical technical
skills (e.g., information communication technology and artificial intelligence) and cross-disciplinary knowledge
to be successful in the emerging decarbonized, green economy. Investing in workforce education at our
community and technical colleges and universities is essential. Providing environmentally focused workforce
training in water, energy, forestry, agriculture, materials and construction will attract students and workers to
enter Washington’s workforce and contribute directly to the green economy.
Strategies for Investing in Washington’s workforce:
Expand customized, short-term and job-specific training for incumbent, mid-career workers through an
increased investment in the Job Skills program that the State Board for Community and Technical
Colleges administers. This program is poised to help in the greening and modernizing of the state’s
economy and co-invest with employers who need customized training due to growth, changes in
technology and addressing skills shortages.
8 SYNC, Washington State Public Works Board
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 15
Invest in four-year universities to enhance the ability to create online programs or certificates,
particularly to help the current workforce stay on top of key changes in science and industry.
Develop cross-disciplinary curriculum and training for the emerging green economy workforce. This
would include integrating information communication technology (ICT) and artificial intelligence (AI)
capabilities with new developments in decarbonized green energy, any new statewide framework for
water resource management and the emerging industrial symbiosis and circular economy models.
Strengthen investments in meaningful, work-based learning opportunities like registered apprenticeship
and Career Connect Washington that transition our workforce to meet the demands of the future:
Renew investments in program intermediary grants administered by the Employment Security
Department.
Continue expanding postsecondary enrollment in Career Launch-endorsed programs the State
Board for Community and Technical Colleges administers to expand enrollment and provide
funding for capital equipment needs.
Invest in flexible, short-term workforce training programs as on-ramps to career pathways in the
greening economy by fully funding community and technical college enrollments in high quality,
industry-recognized credential pathways.
Provide tuition waiver backfill to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges for the
registered apprenticeship related supplemental instruction.
Extend the Washington customized employment training program tax credit and expand investment in
the state’s workers by increasing the revolving loan fund.
Create more apprenticeship programs that lower barriers to entry.
Work with labor unions and other organized forms of workers.
O-6 Prepare the next generation in science, technology, engineering and math.
Washington should lead the nation in inspiring young people to pursue higher education and careers in
science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). The next generation of green economy-focused scientists,
engineers and technicians will need to possess the skills and knowledge required to consider and solve
complex, multidisciplinary challenges. The expanding green economy will continue to present new technology-
oriented economic opportunities that will require a larger pool of skilled, knowledgeable and motivated STEM
workers than currently exists.
Allocate increased funding for K-14 education, including the Office of Superintendent of Public
Instruction and the Washington state community and technical college system, so a wider range of
interactive and integrative learning activities can be developed, implemented and assessed.
Washington should lead the nation in inspiring young people of all ages to pursue higher education and
careers in STEM.
Support increased funding for Washington State's Leadership and Assistance for Science Education
Reform (LASER) program. LASER plays a key role in ensuring that state science leaders maintain a
learning community and develop their skills to provide leadership and assistance in service of removing
barriers and structures to improve STEM implementation at the school and district levels. LASER is
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 16
positioned to help school districts identify opportunities to better serve students who are
systematically underrepresented in STEM.9
Support associated undergraduate and graduate education in STEM to further develop these skills
through active recruitment and specialized training opportunities that make Washington state an
attractive place for people with these skills to stay.
O-7 Identify and address financial barriers for emerging technology and
infrastructure development.
Washington state must develop financial strategies to address barriers in access to capital needed to
maximize opportunity in the green economy. Significant financial resources will be required in infrastructure
and technology to support a green economy across all sectors. For instance, stormwater management will be
of increasing importance with new extreme weather patterns as a result of changing climate, putting
significant constraints on vulnerable existing infrastructure. The sustainability of the green economy will
depend on resilient infrastructure systems. Securing investments in infrastructure and technology will require
the identification of new sources of capital, as well as a fresh examination of the eligibility and criteria for
existing public investment programs to ensure these programs can fund opportunities in the green economy.
Additionally, women-, minority- and worker-owned businesses in particular face steeper barriers to capital and
need particular consideration as opportunities in the green economy are pursued.
The workgroup recommends the following strategies:
Capitalize the Public Works Board funding by providing increased funding per biennium for
infrastructure financing.
Consider expanding the Public Works Board program to include green economy projects in water,
energy and infrastructure projects and request that the Public Works Board develop mechanisms to
incentivize projects that achieve excellent environmental-economic performance.
Partner with nonprofit organizations to establish criteria and a certification mechanism to demonstrate
the suitability of Washington projects for environmental, social and governance (ESG) fund investment
as this sector of private equity and bond investment grows extremely rapidly and is searching for
projects that incorporate environmental-social-governance factors.
The state should identify a mechanism to provide low-cost capital to local entrepreneurs and
businesses owned by low-income and minority populations at all lifecycles of their development for
businesses in the green economy.
Provide transition assistance loans for business succession or business conversion of green
businesses to individual workers, communities of concern and for women- and minority-owned
businesses.
Ensure that new state infrastructure priorities consider the needs of all Washington residents, including
those living in rural and unincorporated areas. These communities have the least capacity to plan,
design, build and maintain infrastructure. Consideration of these communities will help them leverage
the relationship between infrastructure and green economic development.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 17
O-8 Explore a new comprehensive framework for understanding the nexus of
food, energy, and water systems (FEW).
The relationship among food production, water consumption and energy consumption is an emerging area of
research. Demand for food, energy and water is increasing with population growth, and the relationship
between them is increasingly complex. Population growth and migration, changes in land use, economic
factors, governance issues, as well as impacts from a changing climate affect existing food, energy and water
systems. Researchers are examining this interconnected relationship in food, energy, and water systems
known as FEW, to understand these from a single, systems perspective.
Examples of research and development in Washington state include work being done by the Center for
Environmental Research, Education and Outreach (CEREO) at Washington State University. One example of
FEW research led by CEREO was examining the relationship between food, energy and water in the Columbia
River Basin, helping to understanding the tradeoffs in the management of these sectors from a broader,
interrelated systems approach.
To develop a statewide framework for considering the interrelated systems of food, energy and water as one
interrelated system, the state should consider:
Fund and conduct a comprehensive feasibility study to determine what a statewide, systems-based
framework for food, energy and water would look like for Washington state. The study should identify
potential efficiencies to be gained through the optimization of these resources more holistically, along
with the technologies needed to be developed and scaled in the public and private sector.
Supporting a new integrated technology incubator model focused on technological development for
food, energy and water applications as a system, rather than the prevailing model for supporting these
functions separately.
Supporting the state's research universities in pursuing new research in FEW, encouraging partnerships
with practitioners in these sectors where existing relationships may not currently exist to bridge the gap
between research and development, and industry practitioners.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 18
Agriculture Sector Recommendations and Opportunities
Washington state's growing agricultural economy will produce more food and other agricultural products for
both export and domestic markets, putting additional pressure on the land, water and energy resources that
are already affected by the impacts of climate change. Washington state is a leader in efficiently using these
resources in ways that strengthen the economy. Some of the following key opportunities highlight specific
ways that Washington state may continue to lead in agricultural sector development while addressing the
environmental challenges that result from climate change.
A-1 Develop the workforce to support regenerative and precision-farming practices.
Washington's newly authorized Sustainable Farms and Fields grant program provides financial assistance to
farm, ranch and aquaculture operators who adopt practices that reduce their operations' carbon footprint and
increase the quantity of carbon stored on their land. The state’s new Soil Health Initiative, a statutory
collaboration between Washington State University, the Washington State Conservation Commission and the
Washington State Department of Agriculture, emphasizes practices that can help us adapt to a changing
climate by restoring soil productivity to improve farm profitability, enhance human nutrition, make more water
available in the soil for crops, improve water quality and other environmental functions, store carbon and
reduce carbon emissions across Washington's diverse agricultural systems.
To strengthen these new programs and better leverage opportunities for career development, the state should
consider supporting workforce training for the technicians needed to advance the emerging field of
regenerative agriculture and precision. These trainings should be developed in close consultation with
farmworkers responsible for the practices. Close coordination among WSU’s Centers for Sustaining
Agriculture and Natural Resources and Precision & Automated Agricultural Systems, the Washington State
Conservation Commission, Washington State Department of Agriculture, USDA Natural Resources
Conservation Service and Walla Walla Community College’s Center of Excellence for Agriculture and Natural
Resources will provide a better sense of the financial resources needed to:
Develop, implement and evaluate the facilitation of technician-level training in regenerative and
precision farming practices for farmers, conservation districts and other public and private lands
managers.
Convene a state-wide consortium of precision agriculture-focused businesses to standardize data
collection and equipment integration practices to better assist producers.
Support scholarships for students at public community and technical colleges and universities who
major in programs with an emphasis on regenerative and precision agriculture and/or agricultural
extension and education programs.
Support farmworkers required to implement practices or affected by changes as needed after
consultation with the farm workers.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 19
A-2 Focus agricultural research and public engagement on differential impacts of climate change
based on differences in the scale and types of agricultural operations across the state.
There is a critical need for basic higher education research and extension services throughout the state to
better identify likely climate-related impacts and opportunities to create more resilient agricultural
management regimes and production systems. Climate change threatens agricultural production and viability
and will affect Washington’s water supply, water quality (especially temperature), soil quality and condition and
other elements of food production in different ways across our diverse region. Research and development
promises to be a cost-effective means for supporting farmer responsiveness to an uncertain future, increasing
the long-term sustainability of agricultural soils and lands and recognizing that, while the impacts of climate
change create new stresses on agricultural soils and operations, climate change also creates potential new
production opportunities. The recommended green economy priorities include agricultural research and
engagement to:
Promote agricultural innovation, technology adoption and management regimes that sequester carbon
and reduce input costs, energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions and promote public support for
such actions through public engagement.
Identify current food and agricultural products that are most likely to be impacted by a changing
climate and recommend specific strategies, like variety development, that can enhance adaptation.
Continue to support the public-private partnerships with higher education in breeding, crop protection,
precision agriculture and soil health that provide adaptable varieties, integrated pest management
strategies and decision-support systems in the context of a changing climate.
Increase Soil Health Initiative investments as a bank of resilience to climate change, improving the
state's agricultural soils, storing carbon and reducing carbon emissions while promoting positive
environmental, nutritional and agricultural outcomes across Washington's diverse agricultural systems.
Research and identify agricultural strategies to reduce and adapt to climate impacts of sea level rise
and prepare for and mitigate agricultural challenges related to salt and sea water intrusion into aquifers
and drainage systems.
A-3 Support the state's regenerative agriculture sector through programmatic investments to
meet the increasing challenges of a changing climate.
Existing conflicts between agricultural production systems and the environment, such as water quality
impairments, water depletion and species and habitat declines, are projected to become more pronounced in
coming decades. Agricultural production and associated infrastructure are important drivers of rural economic
development, creating off-farm jobs and contributing to the economic viability of farming and rural
communities. Public support for innovations and new technologies to reduce agricultural input needs and
costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, sequester carbon and improve riparian habitats should be promoted,
as well as development of environmental markets and funding streams that directly benefit working farms and
ranches, rural economies and environmental functions.
The recommended green economy priorities include regenerative agriculture and technical assistance
investments to:
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 20
Develop or expand environmental markets, carbon credit programs, soil health programs and green
incentive payment streams, including habitat farming payments for farmers to restore riparian habitats
as a "specialty crop" that can concurrently improve critical environmental functions, increase
agricultural resilience and support the viability of farm operations.
Increase and improve access to technical assistance to meet increasing demands around climate
adaptation.
Increase organic matter in agricultural soils to improve the soil's water and carbon storage capacities,
thereby reducing erosion and protecting water quality.
Increase engagement of businesses and philanthropy to discuss what public-private partnerships are
needed to ensure appropriate adaptation, with an understanding that there are benefits and challenges
in terms of public research dollars and private benefits.
Work to achieve the food waste reduction goals established by the legislature in 2019, recognizing that
wasted food is also wasted water, and that wasted food creates the worst kind of greenhouse gas
emissions, ones that have no corresponding benefits.
A-4 Secure legal reserves of agricultural water supplies critical to continued agricultural viability.
In addition to current barriers producers face, anticipated reductions in water supply and changes in its
seasonal and regional availability will increase competition among industry, municipalities, food producers and
natural systems. The long-term sustainability of agriculture in Washington will be impacted by how well our
agricultural sectors adapt to climate impacts on water supply. The recommended green economy priorities
include agriculture and water resource-related actions and investments to:
Work with policy makers, university researchers, tribal governments and agencies to project future
agricultural water availability needs across the state and to identify strategies to reduce water use
conflicts.
Use a cooperative approach to negotiations and build on demonstrated water management
cooperation in programs like the Yakima Basin Integrated Water Management Plan and Office of
Columbia River projects to ensure that integrated packages of water supply, storage, conservation,
habitat or fish passage actions deliver neutral or positive outcomes that do not negatively impact
agricultural viability or fish and other core environmental functions.
Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy, through careful negotiation and immediate policy
development and action, to secure water availability for agriculture across the state, including
additional storage options or other strategies where feasible and environmentally workable.
Consider an Office of Western Washington Water to coordinate a comprehensive agricultural water
availability strategy for Western Washington, where competing uses will have the largest potential
impacts on agriculture uses.
A-5 Protect agricultural land and assist farmers in transferring development rights, thereby supporting
both agricultural viability and ecosystem benefits.
According to the most recent USDA Agricultural Census, in the last two decades the number of acres of
agricultural land in production in Washington fell by over one million acres and the number of farms declined
by 10%. Purchase of agricultural conservation easements provides funds directly to farms while
simultaneously improving long-term ecosystem resilience and food security outcomes. As a recent Puget
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 21
Sound Partnership Action Agenda document notes: “The continued loss of farms in the region and conversion
to non-farm uses is not only detrimental to individual farmers and to the regional farm economy; but is
detrimental to the recovery of Puget Sound…Analyses indicate that one acre converted from agricultural to
urban development produces 10 to 15 times the runoff and runoff-borne pollutants, including far higher
concentrations of heavy metals, petroleum and other key pollutants…Farmland also provides habitat and food
resources for migratory bird species, promotes aquifer recharge…(and) provides greater flood plain function
than developed areas.”10 In the rapidly urbanizing regions of Washington, pressure from increasing residential,
commercial and industrial development and rapid appreciation of land values are critical challenges that
threaten agricultural land, access to land for farmers and environmental functions. Recommended green
economy priorities include farmland protection and conservation actions to:
Develop and expand mechanisms to support agricultural producers for the positive ecosystem impacts
that agriculture provides, including benefits to water quality, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat and
other open space values.
Prioritize investment in farmland preservation programs and technical assistance efforts that
concurrently maintain and enhance agricultural viability while also protecting and enhancing functions
and values of critical areas, such as fish and wildlife habitats, wetlands, aquifers and flood plains,
including Growth Management Act (GMA) Critical Areas programs and the state Conservation
Commission's Office of Farmland Protection, Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, Voluntary
Stewardship Program (VSP) and VSP-like programs.
Robust investment in the state Conservation Commission's Agricultural Conservation Easement
program to pursue voluntary agricultural conservation easements. Under this tool, a landowner
voluntarily sells development rights to a qualified easement holder, eliminating most or all future
residential development potential. The land is kept in agricultural production, the landowner receives
compensation and the land can be more accessible to a new farm buyer because the development
rights have already been sold.
Ensure that the agricultural zoning code adequately protects agricultural land, agricultural communities
and agricultural infrastructure. Ensure that agricultural areas are accurately designated, including
assessment of areas that are not currently designated as agriculture, but having a high degree of
actively farmed ground or having land suitable and available for agriculture, and considered for
additional levels of agricultural protection.
Establish standards for jurisdictions that permit and plan for development, conservation and other land
use permitting actions within agricultural areas to minimize and mitigate for impacts to agricultural
land, agricultural communities and associated agricultural infrastructure.
A-6 Support the next generation of Washington state farmers through targeted efforts to
increase opportunities for young farmers to buy or lease agricultural land.
Nearly half of Washington’s agricultural land is set to change ownership in the next 20 years. This is because
the average Washington farmer is near retirement, at over 58 years old. However, most Washington farmers do
not have a succession plan to pass on the land and business to the next generation. As a result, large portions
of Washington’s agricultural land base are vulnerable to fragmentation, conversion to non-agricultural uses
and transfer of ownership to non-farmers. Young and beginning farmers have additional challenges and
10 Puget Sound Partnership, 2014.2015 Action Agenda for Puget Sound, 3A, 18-19,
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 22
consistently cite access to land as their number-one barrier. Young farmers in Washington are diverse, highly
educated and strong entrepreneurs in their communities – but they face an uphill battle, with high debt and
ever higher land prices. Most have a second, off-farm job. Recommended green economy priorities include
next generation farmer actions and investments to:
Develop streamlined, creative and low-cost loan financing in support of agricultural land protection and
land access for new and beginning farmers. These programs would support, for example, purchase of
agricultural land by nonprofits or other qualified entities to prevent conversion of farmland to other
uses and transfer farmland to a new or beginning farmer and creative models for new and beginning
farmers, such as agricultural and/or conservation easements, lease-to-own agreements and ground
leases.
Examine ways to encourage retention of an adequate number of farmers to operate small and mid-
scale farms and support local food security, including meeting the educational needs for the next
generation of farmers and providing for the continued economic viability of local food production,
processing and distribution in the state.
Invest in the Open Space Farm and Agriculture Program to increase small acreage participation and
production, while updating the application process to better support small and mid-scale producers.
Create Beginning Farmer tax credits that would provide a sales and use tax exemption for beginning
farmers (less than 10 years) and a real estate excise tax exemption for transfer of ownership between
landowners and new farmers. Young farmers consistently cite access to land as their top barrier.
A-7 Pursue locally focused food supply and food security solutions.
Washington is one of only five states in the nation without a state program to leverage “buy local” preferences
by voluntarily labeling and promoting Washington food and agricultural products across state, regional,
national and world markets. Expanding and promoting programs that bring healthy and nutritious Washington-
grown foods to Washington residents can decrease the carbon footprint of our food system and reduce farm-
to-table food miles traveled. Additionally, locally focused food supply solutions will promote the continued
economic viability of local food production and rural economies while reducing food insecurity and hunger in
the state. Recommended green economy priorities include market access and Washington-grown actions and
investments to:
Expand investment in WSDA's Regional Markets and Direct Marketing programs and similar public and
private entities for which demand greatly exceeds capacity to provide technical market readiness
assistance, resources and trainings to help small- and medium-scale farms and producer co-ops and
distributors overcome market barriers and meet buyer needs, including schools and other public
institutions.
Increase capacity and investment in the WSDA Food Assistance Program's Farm to Food Pantry
Initiative to improve purchasing power at the county level and expand participation to move more
locally grown produce into food banks and food pantries for people in need. WSDA’s Food Assistance
Program provides food, funding, logistics and outreach to hunger relief providers and tribes.
Establish a location-based labeling program to improve the promotional branding of Washington
grown-and-raised products in the marketplace, thereby differentiating Washington’s great reputation for
producing high-quality products that are pure, safe and sustainable and making local food and
agricultural products more visible to local, regional and international consumers.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 23
Expand funding and technical assistance to retailers such as farmers markets, farm stands, mobile
markets, pop-up markets, ethnic grocers and other points of sale, to ensure success with providing the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); Farmers Market Nutrition Program; Women,
Infants and Children (WIC) Program, and fruit and vegetable incentives programs.
A-8 Improve public procurement policies and purchasing incentives to decrease the carbon footprint of
Washington's food system and bring more local, nutritious Washington-grown food to Washington
residents.
Publicly funded nutrition assistance programs and social services work together to help stretch limited
household food budgets, either by providing assistance to buy food or by providing food or meals to save on
groceries and other food-buying costs. In Washington, one in nine people struggle with hunger; one in six
people sought food assistance at a food bank or meal program, and one in six Washington children don’t know
where their next meal will come from.11 Recommended green economy priorities include public procurement
actions and investments to:
Establish and deploy a Washington-grown labeling program to make it easier for procurement
specialists to identify Washington foods and bring them into schools and other institutions like
childcare facilities, hospitals, universities, state cafeterias, senior meal programs and food banks.
Enhance funding to increase the capacity, incentives and abilities of schools and other public
institutions to procure and use Washington-grown food products (models include grants,
reimbursement or cost-share programs).
Expand farm-to-school efforts through enhanced funding for WSDA’s Farm to School Program, Office
of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), schools and other meal programs (child care,
Summer Meals, etc.) so schools and other institutions have access to best practices on how to
purchase and use local Washington products.
Ensure the Department of Enterprise Services and Department of Agriculture work together to clarify
and implement Washington-grown procurement policies and criteria in state food contracting and
purchasing processes.
Invest in Food Insecurity Nutrition Incentives (FINI) Program staffing, information technology capacity
and benefits to broaden incentives for consumers with limited incomes to purchase more Washington
fruits and vegetables in farmers markets, grocery stores and online. Increase the amount of benefits
available per participant per season in the WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
Facilitate implementation of summer Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) options and integrate fruit and
vegetable incentives into the SNAP program’s EBT system (i.e., create a Fruit and Vegetable Incentives
account on the EBT card).
11 USDA, Washington State Department of Agriculture
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 24
A-9 Fund research and development to help Washington's shellfish
aquaculture sector grow and adapt to climate change.
Washington state has been a leader in commercial shellfish aquaculture since the mid-1800s and today is the
nation’s leading producer of farmed clams, oysters, and mussels. Shellfish is an important component of
marine ecosystems, and environmental changes affect shellfish aquaculture production. Washington state
experiences ocean acidification, interfering with the development of many shellfish species and potentially
impacting the ability for this sector to thrive in the face of changing environmental conditions. In addition to
ocean acidification, climate change introduces changes to water temperature that interact with other
environmental changes and need further study to completely understand the potential impacts to the state's
shellfish aquaculture industry.
The complex challenges facing shellfish managers and growers have spurred interest in more comprehensive,
ecosystem-based research that integrates environmental, social, economic and institutional information.12
Since 2011, the Governor's Shellfish Initiative has brought together a partnership among state, federal, and
tribal governments, the shellfish aquaculture industry and nonprofit organizations to identify challenges and
promote the industry. This partnership is in the second phase of this work with the following recommendations
representing key priorities for the industry.
Ensure clean water. Prevent and fix pollution problems and re-open shellfish beds.
Embrace strategies to address ocean acidification's impact on shellfish. Implement strategies through
the Marine Resource Advisory Council, the Washington Ocean Acidification Center, Washington Sea
Grant, and other collaborative efforts.
Advance shellfish research topics. Study diverse topics from harmful algal blooms to economic
impacts and ecosystems services.
Improve permitting processes to maintain and increase sustainable aquaculture. Increase predictability
and timeliness in aquaculture permitting.
Restore native shellfish. Grow and plant baby Olympia oysters and Pinto abalone in native habitat.
Enhance recreational shellfish harvest. Connect people with shellfish and harvest experiences,
protecting shoreline environments and restoring water quality around Puget Sound, Willapa Bay, Grays
Harbor, and the outer coast.
Educate the next generation about shellfish. Engage students and the public in understanding local
shellfish resources, ecosystems services and water quality.
Further specific recommendations to support Washington state's shellfish aquaculture industry include:
The state should create a dedicated fund to support select research, development and deployment
projects focused on both mitigating ocean acidification and developing integrated net-zero carbon,
ecological restoration and food production-based shellfish aquaculture systems (for both marine and
freshwater).
12 Shellfish Aquaculture in Washington State: Final Report to the Legislature, Washington Sea Grant, 2015.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 25
Ensure a continued active role in engaging tribal governments as active partners in new projects and
business development efforts, as well as new developments in monitoring and assessment are
implemented.
Follow the recommendations outlined in the Puget Sound Partnership's 2018 Action Agenda for
priorities for Washington state shellfish beds.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 26
Forestry and Materials Sector Recommendations and
Opportunities
Washington state has more than 22 million acres of forestland that provide important resources for economic
development in rural economies, recreational opportunities, as well as environmental benefits such as carbon
sequestration.13 New technological developments are opening up opportunities for clean sources of energy
and building materials that can also help the state meet its objectives in addressing statewide forest health
issues. Washington state is uniquely positioned to establish itself as a global leader in these developments by
focusing on some of the following key opportunities.
F-1 Establish and promote new markets for the emerging biomass industry.
Washington state should help establish and support strong markets for low-
grade woody biomass. Forest biomass refers to by-products of forest management activities or forest health
treatments prescribed under the state’s forest health law. Using forest biomass has a number of benefits.
Increasing the production and use of renewable fuels and chemicals derived from biomass will improve
ecosystem functions, reduce lifecycle carbon emissions, add employment in rural communities, reduce
hazardous fuels in forests and generate energy products needed to displace fossil fuels. Immediate
opportunities include industrial-grade wood pellets for thermal energy and possibly power production in
remote communities; biochar for soil health, crop production enhancement and long-term carbon
sequestration; smaller diameter trees removed as part of hazard reduction being incorporated as feedstock for
cross-laminated timber; and gasification of biomass for distillate fuels, renewable natural gas and other value-
added coproducts.
To support emerging markets for the state's biomass industry, the state should:
Direct state and federal research institutions with experience in biomass processing technologies to
work with private sector interests to identify the research and development priorities most likely to
advance timely and productive biomass products that provide lifecycle environmental benefits.
Prepare and offer packages of financial incentives and technical assistance to attract investment in
multiple biomass processing and refining facilities. Packages should include coordinated permit
review, market development assistance and as appropriate, public funding from industrial revenue
and/or exempt facility bonds.
Require that a certain percentage of biomass harvested annually from hazardous fuels reduction
projects be used for production of renewable transportation fuels, industrial-grade wood pellets for
thermal energy and/or biochar for soil remediation projects. Begin in 2024 with an initial percentage
requirement, then increase the percentage over time to the degree that it doesn’t constrain chip
markets for existing pulp and paper demand.
Support advancements in the efforts of the Northwest Advanced Renewables Alliance in developing
aviation biofuel from forest products.
13 Washington State Department of Natural Resources
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 27
F-2 Fund forest fire prevention, including hazardous fuels reduction projects.
There are insufficient state, federal and tribal fire response and protection resources to meet growing fire-
related threats to communities, economies and the environment. As climate change increases temperatures
and alters weather patterns across the state, some areas are predicted to receive less moisture and
experience more frequent drought conditions. As a result, forest and shrub steppe ecosystems will become
more susceptible to wildfires. With more residential development occurring within and adjacent to these
ecosystems, in what is termed the wildland urban interface (WUI), it is expected that fires will increase in
frequency, intensity and with more area burned throughout the state. These fire events will strain our existing
firefighting resources.
The Department of Natural Resources is the agency designated by the legislature as responsible for directing
the work of forest fire suppression in the state (RCW 76.04). DNR recently developed both forest health and
wildfire protection strategic plans that identify specific goals and strategies to reduce the losses and costs
from catastrophic wildfires under current climate change predictions. These plans provide an “all lands, all
hands” approach to coordinating activities across spatial scales and landscapes.14
Washington needs to provide increased revenue for fire suppression activities while also supporting efforts
that help develop a state-wide understanding and effective coordinated response to changing fire regimes and
the impact fires have on ecosystems and communities. An evaluation of the resulting impacts of wildfires, and
efforts to reduce the frequency and extent of catastrophic wildfires should be conducted after a period of 10
years. Steps that should be taken in this near term could include:
Prioritizing community education and extension programs about interconnections among climate
change, forest management, forest fires, and water resources – in both the short- and long-term
Use risk assessment to inform resilience and protection planning and establish priorities: Invest in the
capacity and tools to quantify the state’s current and projected wildland fire risk. Use these tools to
conduct state, regional, and local planning and strategically prioritize actions and investments.
Increase the workforce and capacity across agencies and partners to address current and projected
wildland fire management needs: Establish new positions for year-round fuels treatment and response
capabilities.
Increase resources for prevention and recovery strategies and invest in response infrastructure.
Develop and deploy new methods and approaches to inclusively engage communities and foster
behavior change: Conduct pilot projects, and engage limited English proficiency communities.
Invest in resilience and community preparedness: With priorities identified, increased capacity, and
engaged communities, ramp up investment in programs and actions to create resilient landscapes, and
fire-adapted communities. Accelerate funding for, and implementation of, the 20-year Forest Health
Strategic Plan for Eastern Washington.
Address post-fire recovery needs: Create a taskforce to recommend solutions and establish a Burned
Area Emergency Response (BAER) team.
Invest in infrastructure, facilities and support to improve response: Increase wildland fire fighting
workforce, expand training, increase air capacity, and improve facilities.
14 http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ForestHealthPlan; https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/rp_wildfire_strategic_plan
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 28
Advance a sustainable funding solution: Convene a high-level task force to identify and recommend to
the legislature a durable, robust funding mechanism for wildland fire protection and response
capabilities, and investments in forest health, fire-adapted communities, and post-fire recovery. Engage
the legislature to ensure sufficient funding to reduce risks and provide for the long-term safety and
resilience of communities.
Accelerate the pace and scale of forest health treatments.
Strategically focus work to protect communities and values at risk.
Promote rural economic development and use of restoration by-products.
Monitor progress and adapt strategies over time to ensure treatment effectiveness.
University of Washington and Washington State University have different, complimentary expertise related to
monitoring fire events and understanding near- and long-term impacts of fires on ecosystems and people that
could help bring state-of-the-art science to those making decisions and policy in natural and human-inhabited
spaces. Wenatchee Valley College Continuing Education, in partnership with Okanogan Conservation District,
offers wildfire preparedness classes for those in the community who want to be better prepared for wildfires
and to learn how thinning, grazing and prescribed fire can reduce wildfire risks while also maintaining quality
wildlife habitat. Washington state should support the statewide expansion of these efforts in communities with
high wildfire risk with a particular focus on communities with low employment, language barriers and other
factors that may make them disproportionately impacted.
F-3 Support Washington state’s new commitment to ‘Industrial
Symbiosis’.
“Industrial symbiosis is the use by one company or sector of underutilized resources broadly defined (including
waste, by-products, residues, energy, water, logistics, capacity, expertise, equipment and materials) from
another, with the result of keeping resources in productive use for longer. It presents a systems approach to a
more sustainable and integrated industrial economy that identifies business opportunities to improve resource
utilization and productivity.”15
A statewide industrial waste coordination program ("industrial symbiosis") would nurture collaborative
opportunities to match underused resources from one company with the resource needs of another, thereby
enhancing economic value, decreasing waste management needs and disposal costs and offering substantial
environmental and energy efficiency benefits. The legislature strongly supported creation of such a program in
2020, but the bill was vetoed due to financial exigencies associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Establish an industrial waste coordination program and provide adequate financial resources in future
appropriations to ensure statewide success.
The program should coordinate closely with the Recycling Development Center to identify collaborative
opportunities and address significant challenges to waste management strategies and policies.
Build a working database that contains examples of where industrial waste has been effectively used
to promote a sustainable future, such as redirection of waste heat from data centers into heat for
buildings or communities, which has been successfully applied in the state.
15 European Committee for Standardization Workshop CWA 17354:2018 (E). December 2018.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 29
F-4 Expand opportunities for fiber recycling in communities with existing mill
capacity.
To build a regenerative economy, more post-consumer office paper, newspaper and cardboard must be
recycled within Washington boundaries. These activities reduce both waste and carbon emissions. Repulping
mills in the state currently have excess cardboard recycling capacity and inadequate mixed office paper
recycling capacity.
Washington state's recycling system has long depended on overseas markets for recyclables. Recent policy
changes in China and elsewhere overseas have led to the prohibition or limitation for importing Washington's
recyclables. Additionally, recycling services have increasingly had to contend with contamination in recycling
that further serves to reduce the value of these as commodities in the marketplace. These significant
challenges leave Washington state in need of redesigning methods for recycling and to seek out new market
solutions for these materials.
Paper mills are increasing the capacity and capability to use recycled paper as feedstock, making use of old
corrugated containers and mixed residential paper. Sorting and processing costs of mixed paper recycling are
a significant barrier to the growth of recycling these materials domestically.
Through implementation of the new Recycling Development Center, work with the pulp and paper
industry to identify obstacles and opportunities to improve fiber recycling within the state.
Support paper mills' capacity to sort mixed paper recyclables and to handle commingled recycled
paper.
Establish incentives to encourage the use of recycled mixed paper in green building products.
Explore Washington’s competitiveness in terms of attracting new manufacturing facilities interested in
using recycled feedstock to locate within the state.
Washington should develop incentives that encourage a certain percentage of these products will be
recycled.
F-5 Support the new Recycling Development Center.
The Recycling Development Center is a new program spearheaded by Ecology, with support from Commerce,
to create a more sustainable and cleaner recycling system for Washington. Contamination in the recycling
stream has prompted major recycling trade restrictions, turning markets upside down and leading to growing
piles of recyclables with nowhere to go but the landfill. To solve this problem, Washington must find new end
markets and reduce contamination in its recycling stream.
The center is focusing on overcoming barriers that prevent full and productive use of secondary materials
diverted from waste streams in the public and private sectors. The center is also working with businesses that
transform or remanufacture waste materials into usable materials or products, especially those involving
mixed waste paper and plastics.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 30
Provide adequate operational support for the center, including staffing and various forms of financial
assistance for recycling businesses, outreach to manufacturers to increase use of recycled materials
and promotion of manufacturing with recycling materials.
Support efforts to find new buyers for Washington's recyclable materials that are no longer accepted
from overseas buyers.
Encourage partnerships to develop domestic markets, educate consumers, and identify other
improvements to Washington’s recycling system
F-6 Establish Washington as a leader in green buildings, clean industry and sustainable materials.
Washington state is home to a growing constellation of companies constructing green and smart buildings.
The state boasts one of the most sophisticated manufacturing capabilities in the world with industries such as
aerospace, technology, biomedicine, bioengineering and many more. Many of those same industries depend
on materials derived from fossil fuels that contribute to degrading environmental conditions. At the same time,
the state has a long history of leadership in waste management, recycling, materials science and sustainable
materials management. Finding innovative ways to produce these materials is an important component to
“greening” the consumption of products many of us use every day. Innovation in scaling existing and creating
new solutions in buildings, industry and materials represents tremendous opportunities to grow Washington
state’s green economy. The following actions would encourage the growth of these industries in Washington
state:
Develop a model building code that directly incentivizes the use of sustainably sourced cross-laminated
timber, other mass timber products and biomass derived materials such as biomass derived carbon
fiber 3D printed components.
Create incentives that would make it economically viable for local jurisdictions to incorporate these
Washington-sourced building materials as key to changing how we develop and grow while also
allowing for streamlining of permitting processes.
Direct incentive programs toward use of Washington-sourced sustainable building materials.
Provide a 10-year suspension of the manufacturing B&O tax to companies in or that choose to re-locate
to Washington state to manufacture sustainably sourced cross-laminated timber (CLT), other mass
timber products and biomass derived materials.
Identify and problem-solve around institutional structural barriers that block innovation in the green
building sector such as federal limitations on the use of solar panels, as an example.
F-7 Expand the use of Washington's forest products as sustainable building materials,
particularly in affordable housing projects.
Washington state should expand green building through the use of forest products, especially modular,
panelized and cross-laminated timber and other mass timber products by analyzing and relieving barriers in
building codes and permitting. The state should create incentives for expanded production of these products
in Washington, particularly in affordable housing projects. Green building improves the economics of
managing affordable housing, promotes environmental quality and enhances quality of life for residents.
Forest products are a sustainable large-scale carbon sequestering option for building materials that
Washington state is in a strong position to benefit from as their use becomes more commonplace in the
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 31
building industry. New technologies allow taller wood buildings, resulting in buildings with lower lifecycle
carbon inputs than concrete or steel and more embodied carbon sequestration.16 As shown by the strong
interest in mass timber products from rural, timber-dependent communities, there are significant economic
development opportunities for both domestic and export markets.
Future investments in affordable housing projects offer an opportunity to promote sustainable building
materials while addressing the urgent need for affordable housing. The Evergreen Sustainable Development
Standard (ESDS) is a green building performance standard required of all affordable housing projects receiving
capital funds from the state Housing Trust Fund.
The ESDS was developed in compliance with the law and contains criteria that safeguard health and safety,
increase durability, promote sustainable living, preserve the environment and increase energy and water
efficiency.
Identify barriers for increased use of credible third party certified lumber in publicly funded affordable
housing projects under ESDS that encourages the use of environmentally preferable materials including
salvaged and post-consumer recycled materials, as well as materials that are harvested, generated or
manufactured within 500 miles of the project site.
Provide more up-front funding for the planning and architectural review costs associated with modular
and sustainably sourced CLT construction. Ensure that guidance exists for careful harvesting of trees
for CLT, capitalizing on the expertise of foresters to accomplish the parallel benefits of fire protection
and forest product development. Require that construction on all new government buildings beginning
in 2026 use at least 20% mass timber, biomass-derived materials and/or equivalent sourced materials
from Washington forests.
Incentivize designing buildings with materials designed intentionally for disassembly or reuse, so that
component parts, such as CLT panels, may be salvaged and used in reconstruction of new buildings.
F-8 Invest in Washington’s forestry workforce of the future.
Washington state has an opportunity to scale industrial workforce training programs to meet the emerging
needs of forest product industries. Current and future demand for forest products, including cross-laminated
timber, will increase demand for tradespeople such as millwrights, plant operators, electricians, machinists, log
truck drivers, loggers and others who will need additional computer networking, programming and
troubleshooting skills. Work with employers to identify and emphasize the need for community and technical
college credentialing and certification programs, especially applied associate degrees.
Washington state should allocate funding to the State Board for Community and Technical Colleges to
purchase training equipment through its existing competitive Workforce Development Fund grant program for
which Washington state community and technical colleges can apply. These additional resources will be
dedicated specifically for use by existing curricula re-designed to address emerging and required skills and
knowledge in the green economy.
16 https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/01/200127134828.htm
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 32
Water Sector Recommendations and Opportunities
Nothing is more fundamental to our collective wellbeing than access to clean, fresh water. For humans and
fish alike, both consumers and industries, water is a basic building block in our basic ability to survive and
thrive. Water managers face unprecedented challenges across the globe and in Washington state related to
water, wastewater and stormwater. A growing population and economy increase our demand for water while
water quality and an evolving set of toxins present a parallel set of challenges. At the same time, climate
change is disrupting historical hydrological patterns, leading to diminishing supply, increasing periods of
drought, increasing frequency and intensity of storm and flood events and changing other weather patterns.
Historic statistical frameworks no longer provide a reliable basis for predicting future events.
W-1 Washington state should examine a comprehensive new framework for
managing water.
Washington state should form a multidisciplinary task force to explore the feasibility of establishing a
statewide framework for water resource management. The multidisciplinary task force would be responsible
for guiding a study and providing recommendations to the legislature on ways for the state to play a
meaningful role in integrating standards in water resource management.
Key elements for the task force to consider will include:
Develop a state water plan. Many states have developed water plans, however Washington state has
not.
Identify different roles that state, local and tribal governments play in water resource management.
Consider problem-solving approaches that broadly consider a community’s social and economic needs,
values and opportunities in designing integrated solutions across all water management regimes.
Identify the necessary regulatory changes needed for local public agencies to fully partner across
jurisdictional lines to find more integrated, beneficial outcomes.
Examine practices for sound asset management, to get the most out of existing or new infrastructure
and avoid threats from pollution and climate change.
Identify the changing nature of water resources as a result of climate change and, based on best
available science, forecast these changes identifying competing resource demands, management and
legal issues.
Project future changes to water resources geographically, organized by Water Resource Inventory
Areas in Washington state.
Offer support for communities in their search for available and affordable capital for infrastructure
development.
Consider and address the size and quality of the "talent pipeline" for future infrastructure design and
management and develop solutions for education and workforce development to ensure a sufficient
number of infrastructure professionals are trained to find and implement integrated solutions.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 33
New infrastructure management approaches are emerging that recognize natural systems as an asset,
integrating supply treatment and surface water resource storage and management and cutting across
traditional silos. New frameworks for approaching water systems management are being developed that
include all the functions of water regardless of where it is in the cycle of use. Washington state should
examine a framework that considers all water—drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater and gray
water as resources that must be managed holistically and sustainably, including water rights, storage and
development. Such a framework will help advance the water sector in the green economy through economic
investment, strengthening communities and promoting a healthy environment.
One such approach is promoted by the U.S. Water Alliance in Washington, D.C. This new approach is known as
the One Water movement and involves the treatment of water as one resource — from source to use to
wastewater treatment and recycling back to the natural environment.
One Water is about integrating systems that have been managed in separate utility structures and silos. It
provides an opportunity to rethink the fundamentals of how we manage resources with a holistic approach.
The One Water concept expands the menu of technologies and solutions available to providers and consumers
for water use (potable, irrigation, industrial, wastewater and natural resources), as well as for storage,
transportation, recycling and reuse. It also benefits from collaboration among utilities, communities,
agriculture, environmental groups and local and tribal governments to form partnerships that allow smarter,
systems-based responses to water needs and challenges. The benefits of an integrated approach extend
beyond water. The One Water concept allows for consideration of broader community objectives, like job
creation or public amenities, and by pooling capacities, expands the menu of technologies, perspectives and
resources available to power more integrated solutions.
Washington state’s water resources are managed across an array of public jurisdictions and authorities and
private water service providers. One Water would examine water resources based on Washington’s 62
Watershed Resource Inventory Areas (WRIAs) as the logical foundation for building more integrated water
management systems addressing water for drinking, industry, ecosystem health, irrigation and natural
resources as well as stormwater and wastewater. One Water would integrate actions within WRIAs according
to whole-system needs and opportunities and harmonize regulatory demands across local, state, tribal and
federal authorities accordingly. Where conflicting regulations impede smart water management, policy makers
should step in and provide needed changes.
Washington state should take steps to examine what a comprehensive framework for water systems
management such as One Water would look like in this state.
W2 - Establish a clean-water-technology business accelerator and industry
engagement program.
Provide resources and support to establish a clean-water-technology business accelerator and engagement
program in partnership with the state of Washington Water Research Center at Washington State University,
Puget Sound Institute at the University of Washington, Tacoma, collaborating state agencies, centers of
excellence and related nonprofit organizations such as PureBlue.
The program will scale appropriate technologies for wastewater, stormwater, drinking water and receiving
water bodies and develop small and medium-sized businesses. The program will leverage the existing network
of incubators, accelerators and outreach and advocacy initiatives in allied industry and sectors from maritime
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 34
to clean energy. Specific recommendations for the new business accelerator and industry engagement
program include:
Create an expert advisory group to leverage existing coordination and landscape analysis initiatives
and define a roadmap on both the outreach and accelerator components of the program.
Formation of a Washington clean-water alliance with global reach. Using existing forums, the alliance
will facilitate exchange between the research and development community, commercial entities with
solutions, industrial and municipal end users facing water quality challenges, investors and policy
leaders. Furthermore, the alliance will play a critical role in associated education and workforce
development.
Identification of new technologies through international requests for proposals based on identified
needs and provide expert evaluation.
Accelerate the development and commercialization for selected technology companies (startups),
providing co-location with large water corporations that are incentivized to locate in the state.
Scale application through public-private partnerships for a revolving loan or similar funding mechanism
for pilot and full-scale technology solutions benefiting Washington state.
Washington state should finance and incentivize the initial steps, required to rapidly enhance the capacity of
statewide commercialization and scale-up of available water technologies, addressing emerging challenges of
clean-water availability and pollution in a changing climate. These actions leverage existing public-private
partnerships and financing to address key barriers for water managers across fragmented sectors in
Washington, from pharmaceuticals and other contaminants in drinking water to industrial and agricultural
runoff, from methane emission reduction and revenue generation from biogas captured at wastewater
facilities. The coordination of technology acceleration in three underserved segments of the water sector;
wastewater, stormwater and drinking water will leverage efforts currently underway among municipalities,
businesses, nonprofit organizations and research center.
An expanded program would complement the existing Commerce's Maritime Blue program. The co-location of
supported water companies has been proposed for a Water Innovation Nexus at the Soundview Innovation
Campus, where an allotted 100,000 square feet would be made available for a clean water center.
In support of a clean-water alliance and engagement effort, the Washington Water Research Center will
leverage its existing leadership in integrative watershed-scale analysis and policy in Washington. Other Centers
of Excellence that also specialize in integrative, multidisciplinary applied research include the Washington
Stormwater Center (WSU) in Puyallup and the Puget Sound Institute (UW) at the Center for Urban Waters,
Tacoma — each with key state roles in pollutant reduction with the Department of Ecology and the Puget
Sound Partnership and direct engagement with stormwater and wastewater managers.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 35
W-3 Engage Washington’s local and tribal jurisdictions in a focused dialogue on water.
Many cities large and small face challenges upgrading and/or building infrastructure to meet future challenges
including water source, infrastructure and workforce development. Most tribes have significant senior water
rights, underscoring the importance of engagement in conversations around water and shared values of
stewardship. To achieve sustainable use of Washington’s water resources, local jurisdictions and tribes are
critical partners toward a unified and collaborative approach.
Washington’s cities, counties, tribes and other significant jurisdictions, such as port and school districts, are in
positions to directly influence the future of the state’s water resources. Local and regional water utilities serve
millions of people and also play a key role in environmental stewardship and economic development. Water
quality standards need to be created by local and tribal stakeholders to minimize the impacts that upstream
and downstream users have on millions of acres of drainage into Washington’s rivers and lakes.
Cities play a key role in water. Among the largest water utilities in Washington state are Seattle Public Utilities,
Tacoma Public Utilities, Spokane Public Works, Cascade Water Alliance and the City of Everett Public Works.
These and other city and water utility providers are at the cutting edge of best practices in water. Washington
cities are laboratories for many of the practices needed in other parts of the U.S. and the world.
Convene a task force to bring tribes and local jurisdictions together to sort through aligned values and
how to achieve common goals as related to the future of the state's water resources.
Conduct a statewide analysis to examine best practices among utilities throughout the state to seek
out the most effective strategies for environmental stewardship and economic development.
W-4 Support workforce development efforts targeting the emerging needs of public works
organizations.
Utility infrastructure is the foundation of social, economic and environmental health for every community in
Washington. Public works or waterworks operators are the most important asset within water and wastewater
systems. Our existing infrastructure is aging concurrently with the workforce operating, maintaining and
repairing it. We are witnessing a mass of operator retirements while our infrastructure fails. We are also seeing
new opportunities to organize, collaborate and take action by ensuring a highly trained, dedicated and
experienced certified operator workforce is in place to protect the integrity of our infrastructure investments.
Washington state should support workforce development efforts targeted to public works to ensure that
talented operators will be in place to service the changing needs of waterworks infrastructure brought on by a
changing climate.
Some of the new and changing water quality requirements at the state and federal levels that are driving the
need to emphasize workforce development for public works organizations include:
Capacity demands for water resources.
New or updated infrastructure systems with advanced technology.
Evolving government regulations that require utilities to train and re-train operators.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 36
Specific ways that Washington state can help to identify and address these challenges include:
Engage public works organizations in a statewide effort to identify emerging challenges to developing
and retaining a talented workforce.
Support the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges in assessing the changing
need for technically skilled workforce through a focused identification of the emerging needs of this
sector and matching those needs with the state's community and technical colleges to ensure that
workforce development opportunities are available throughout the state, particular in low-income and
minority communities.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 37
Maritime Sector Recommendations and Opportunities
Washington state has brought together numerous maritime stakeholders representing industry, government,
tribal governments, research universities and nonprofit organizations to develop a comprehensive economic
development strategy known as Maritime Blue. Maritime Blue seeks to build upon strengths in areas such as
ship design, clean technology, sustainable fishing practices and workforce development to ensure that
Washington state will be home to a world-class maritime industry in the future. The Maritime Blue Strategy
outlines a set of strategic goals and initiatives across a wide range of maritime strengths, many of which are
strongly related to the definition and purpose of the green economy as determined by the Green Economy
Working Group. Some selected areas to highlight from the strategy include but are not limited to the following.
WM-1 Washington state should accelerate the transition of Washington’s
maritime industry to a low-carbon future, pursuing technological
innovations, infrastructure and incentives to enable the transition of local,
coastal and international maritime activity.
Some specific areas to emphasize are related to securing funding to support vessels and shoreside
infrastructure for electric operations and low carbon fuels. This includes:
Funding for electrification of state/county/regional/private ferries and passenger services.
Continuing and increasing funding for the Washington Clean Energy Fund, ensuring inclusion of
maritime innovation.
Securing an array of incentives and funding mechanisms to drive early-stage innovative clean fuel and
electrification projects for ports, including bond funding, cap and trade revenues, grants, loans and
other financing mechanism for capital investments.
WM-2 Washington state should establish itself as a global maritime technology
innovation hub through strategic partnerships.
Some key opportunities to pursue should include:
Designation of a maritime innovation validation zone to perform research and development, testing and
evaluation of safety and performance for digitally assisted operations.
Support for state agency efforts in adopting innovation and technology-based economic development
activity for recruitment, retention, expansion, rural economic development and small business export
assistance.
Funding and developing incubation, research and development and commercialization platforms for
maritime innovation facilities and research centers.
Ensuring that any identified public funds directed toward clean energy and carbon mitigation are
available for maritime clean technology applications.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 38
WM-3 Washington state should grow as a region for imports, exports and maritime
industrial activity, while leading the nation in efficient, clean and safe maritime
activities.
To grow Washington's capacity as a national and international gateway, the following recommendations will
emphasize strengths across all maritime communities and sectors of the industry. Washington state should
consider:
Investing in critical port and maritime infrastructure to maintain and increase modernization and
competitiveness.
Secure funding for infrastructure and digitalization development for port terminal operations and
freight mobility.
Secure funding to implement goals of Puget Sound Partnership recommendations and other
mitigation/conservation priorities.
Secure port and state incentives for international and coastwise ship owners using established best
practices and voluntary certifications.
Aligning and simplifying the regulatory and permitting process to improve, speed, efficiency and
predictability in shoreside maintenance, remediation and construction.
Work with regulatory agencies to create pilot permitting process for blue innovation projects that
meet sustainable economic development criteria.
Secure regulatory predictability and transparency for maritime infrastructure development.
Promote authority within Office of Regulatory Innovation & Assistance (ORIA) to improve permitting
timelines and efficiency.
Secure maritime industrial lands through integrated planning for industrial zoning and economic
development (Growth Management Act and Shoreline Master planning). Use "Industrial Sanctuary"
and “Essential Public Facilities” designations.
Developing regional collaborations and partnerships that promote competitiveness and reduce
ecological impact.
Support inclusion of west coast/Asia air emission targets/incentives.
Support participation in collaborative approaches to align on ecological goals (global, regional,
local).
Coordinate with other ports in the region (West Coast) to increase use of incentives to decrease
emissions and impacts (including noise).
WM-4 Washington state should develop an inclusive and diverse future generation of the maritime
workforce, providing access to clean, healthy and living-wage jobs to Washington residents of all
economic and racial backgrounds.
Ensuring that the maritime workforce of the future is prepared to meet the changing needs of the maritime
sector means investing in developing skill in Washington state. To accomplish this, Washington state should
consider:
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 39
Dedicating funding for maritime specific training, education and workforce development at the K-12,
community college and the four-year universities, including expansion of registered apprenticeships in
youth programs.
Leveraging existing registered apprenticeship programs to increase training across the maritime
supply chain.
Securing changes in Washington state law to include port investments in workforce development.
Supporting federal designation and funding for Domestic Maritime Center of Excellence for
Maritime Workforce Training and Education.
Securing Washington State University funding for marine electrical engineering program.
Supporting initiatives for statewide workforce development that encourage alignment and efficiency of
programs according to community and industry sector based priorities.
Align with initiatives from the State Board for Community and Technical College (SBCTC), Office of
Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), Workforce Training Board (WTB), Career-Connect
Washington Task Force and Workforce Development Council (WDC).
Secure funding according to the Workforce Training Board (WTB) proposal for incumbent worker
training.
Develop training certification that is more consistent across the state and preferably across
multiple states.
Adopting recommendations of Career Connected Washington and regional efforts to define and
support maritime career pipeline development.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 40
Energy Sector Recommendations and Opportunities
The foundation for a green economy strategy is clean energy. Washington's economy will grow stronger as the
state displaces expensive, imported natural gas and petroleum with renewable energy harvested locally using
technologies developed and commercialized here. The task, however, is not a mere substitution of one energy
form for others. It requires a transformation of the energy system, especially the electricity grid. To accomplish
this transformation, the state must innovate and invest end-to-end -- from the fundamental science of
renewable energy, energy efficiency, and smart networks to the skilled workers who will build and operate the
clean energy systems. These innovations become their own economic engine as the state supplies clean
technologies to support global transformation. These technologies are supported by key clean energy policies
that will set the stage for continued growth in these sectors. The Clean Energy Transformation Act requires
that utilities transition to renewable and nonemitting energy sources starting in 2030, and the Clean Buildings
standard requires that all commercial buildings over 50,000 square feet lower their overall energy use and
meet new code requirements.
E-1 Build the clean energy sector workforce of the future.
According to the E2 Clean Jobs America 2020 report, at the start of 2020, clean energy employment increased
for the fifth straight year, increasing to over 3.3 million workers nationwide.17 Clean energy storage and grid
modernization jobs had the fastest growth by sector and energy efficiency added the most jobs overall, with
over 50,000 nationwide. The clean energy transformation requires a workforce with the skills and education to
design, build, operate and maintain the electric sector of the future, such as net zero buildings, renewable
energy systems and new transmission and distribution for grid modernization.
For Washington to continue to lead on its aggressive climate goals, it must invest in a workforce pipeline that
provides training and opportunities for all clean energy sectors to help bridge the gap from today's operations
to tomorrow's technologies. This investment will create a skilled workforce to drive strategic legislative
initiatives while providing high-wage jobs with strong labor standards and opportunities for advancement and
support:
established renewable energy sources such as hydropower, wind and solar and will continue to require
a trained workforce to operate these systems in conjunction with the systems currently operating
tribal energy sovereignty through tribal energy projects and hiring
an increasingly reliable and flexible energy grid by focusing on energy storage, advanced grid
technologies, including advanced metering infrastructure, smart grid technologies and microgrids
among others
technical position such as data scientists, information and communications technology developers,
clean energy engineers and more
energy efficiency jobs, including green building design and building retrofits and maintenance.
17 Clean Jobs America, E2, 2020
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 41
Our clean energy work force must reflect the residents of Washington. Access to clean energy jobs must
ensure that opportunities in workforce training in the efficiency, renewable and clean energy sectors are
available in communities with a high proportion of low-income or highly impacted communities. Training must
be accessible to all and must prioritize diverse hiring practices to help close the current gender gap.
The Pacific Northwest Center of Excellence for Clean Energy provides an example of how the state can meet
its clean energy workforce development needs. Housed at Centralia College, the center is a nationally
recognized model that provides strategic coordination for the energy industry’s skilled workforce in the Pacific
Northwest. It bridges the gap between new community college graduates and the market for a highly skilled
workforce. The center offers 20 community college energy-sector programs that support the industry’s diverse
workforce needs as well as technological advances in areas of energy such as smart grid, solar, energy
efficiency, hydro and wind energy technology, while continuing to support the core curriculum of power
generation, transmission and distribution programs.18
E-2 Modernize the state's electrical grid to deliver safe, reliable, efficient and
clean energy to the consumer.
The state's electrical power grid is a complex system that generates electricity and distributes it through
transformers, substations, transmissions lines, sensors, and poles over distance to be distributed to homes,
offices and schools. This infrastructure requires significant upgrades to address the evolving needs of the
energy sector. Nationwide, approximately 70% of the grid's transmission lines and power transformers are over
25 years old, and the average age of power plants is more than 30 years old. Today's electricity needs are more
sophisticated and have put a significant strain on the grid. The Brattle Group estimates that nearly $2 trillion
will be spent by 2030 on upgrades to the grid just to maintain reliability, including upgrading existing
transmission lines to include distributed resources and meet load in expanding urban centers19.
Washington state must create the grid of the future by coordinating with the state's research universities,
utilities, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to evaluate open source distributed energy
architectures and identify benefits and risks for Washington state as these technologies are being
implemented. Therefore, we need to both update the grid of the past and replace it with the grid of the future
by focusing on:
creating new grid architectures that have the flexibility to support clean energy technologies and energy
management systems
how to site and size energy storage technologies to maintain and build resilience, especially for critical
infrastructure
protect consumer data and maintain grid security as we continue to adopt smart meter infrastructure
and devices
cultivating the political will and regulatory frameworks to support new systems.
18 https://www.cleanenergyexcellence.org/
19 Brattle Group, Why Are Electricity Prices Increasing? (Washington, D.C.: The Edison Foundation, June 2006)
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 42
The grid not only needs to be maintained but also made smarter. Electric utilities' operational technologies
were built on legacy architectures designed to address the operational requirements of central generation
stations delivering energy to end-use consumers. With the proliferation of inverter-based technologies and
internet of things (IoT) devices, (i.e., smart thermostats, water heaters, etc.), this legacy architecture is not
capable of meeting the needs of the new clean energy economy. Power flow can now be bi-directional,
creating operational challenges that may increase cost for consumers while decreasing reliability. New tools
are needed including distributed energy resource management systems (DERMS) and a modern solution
architecture.
There also must be political support to ensure that grid enabled technologies can be deployed. Strengthening
and updating the grid with new technology can prevent outages, help with cyber-security, and permit real-time
data sharing that can improve the efficiency of the entire system.20 But there are also many concerns about
security that have slowed the proliferation of some critical pieces of the smart grid. Advanced metering
infrastructure is one of the key components of a smart grid and yet has not reached far enough within
Washington. There must be political and regulatory support to ensure that these technologies are adopted in a
way that both enables new capabilities of the grid and ensures its security.
Here in the Pacific Northwest, PNNL is leading this effort to deliver a new grid architecture that can incorporate
new technologies and maintain reliability. This architecture is founded on existing national and international
standards to ensure that the grid can support new clean energy technologies and can communicate with
energy management and other platforms that will be critical to ensure its operation. PNNL recently completed
five reference architecture specification sets that provide new concepts on how to structure grids to achieve
specific technical, economic and market outcomes. PNNL’s Grid Architecture work is used in at least 26 states
and in multiple countries around the world. The architectural concepts have also been adopted by several U.S.
electric utilities, including Hawaiian Electric Company, which is pursuing an ambitious grid modernization
initiative to enable the transition to 100 percent clean energy by 2045.
We must lean on open source based platforms to ensure that a modernized grid is accessible to all parts of
Washington and flexible enough to be as innovative as the technology we create. In Washington the work to
develop this open software platform is already underway, driven by thought leadership in our universities,
Avista Utilities and PNNL. One example is OpenDSP, which is a peer-to-peer, data centric, micro-service based
architecture similar to the architectures being currently deployed and promoted in the consumer goods, IoT
and defense industry market spaces. Recently, open source distributed platforms have been demonstrated at
industry trade shows and will start to appear in the market place by 2021. As these new platforms are being
developed, there will also be a critical need to consider cyber-security issues related to the electrical grid under
new open source architectures as currently under development.
Washington must find ways to help tribes, local governments, utilities and industry finance this new grid. The
Clean Energy Fund, a competitive grant supported by the Washington State Department of Commerce, has
spent nearly a decade leveraging funds and research into issues like energy storage, transactive networks and
clean energy deployment while deploying investments into local projects and catalyzing job creation in the
clean energy sector. By supporting a coordinated, engagement with both private and public entities,
Washington can prioritize resilient, place-based strategies to build a robust grid that also supports local
economic development.
20 Energy.gov, Infographic - Understanding the grid.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 43
E-3 Continue the low-carbon and energy conservation achievements in building
operations through innovative energy management.
Other than hydropower, energy conservation is the largest clean energy resource in the Pacific Northwest. In
2014, Pacific Northwest utilities developed 262 average megawatts of new energy savings, enough to power
180,000 homes each year. The Northwest Energy Coalition estimates these accumulated savings have saved
consumers nearly $3.73 billion and lowered carbon emissions by 22.2 million metric tons21. Cumulative
conservation investments in our region, including energy efficiency, utility-funded programs, and improved
building codes, have saved enough to power Seattle five times over and been able to meet 57% of the region's
load growth.
However, the utility rate structure that has been designed to encourage energy conservation at our utilities
does not always translate to incentives for consumers to offset their demand peaks, meaning there is still
opportunity to increase conservation efforts. In order to encourage developments to be “net zero” and “carbon
free,” the energy market should have the appropriate price signals to encourage behavior to minimize demand
on the system during peak loads.
Washington state should continue to promote new utility business models to incentivize building owners,
tenants and developers to actively engage in energy conservation, net zero and carbon free developments.
Washington is already moving steadily toward the electrification of building systems, and the utilities sector
will need to closely collaborate, as that shift will result in additional demands on our existing system. Specific
recommendations for the state of Washington to consider include:
funding pilot projects, such as the Spokane based Eco-District, to evaluate the performance of these
projects for potential best practices that could be scaled up at a statewide level
ensuring that the costs of low- and no-carbon infrastructure and technology integration do not
disproportionally impact those least able to incur that additional expense
Within Washington state, a variety of pilot projects are currently evaluating utility business models. The pilot
projects extend beyond technology platforms to include economic assessments that address stranded assets,
cost shift, fixed asset recovery and fairness. One such pilot project funded by the Washington State
Department of Commerce’s Clean Energy Fund is the Spokane based Eco-District. The Eco-District is
experimenting with regulatory rate design to incentivize net-zero and carbon free developments to operate in a
manner to reduce their impact to utility infrastructure cost. In addition, the Eco-District project is evaluating
programmatic mechanisms to breakdown conventional barriers that prevent the utility to enable customer
energy efficiency performance.
The built environment contributes approximately 40% of carbon emissions. Today, the ability to effect change
is constrained by the barrier of the meter and lease. By reviewing new operational business models, the utility
can help the building owner optimize the performance of the building management system, as well as passing
incentives to the tenants in the building through programs like active energy management.
21 https://www.nwcouncil.org/news/northwest-energy-savings-now-second-largest-resource accessed on 5/8/2020
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 44
E-4 Bridge the critical gap between innovative research and professional
practice in the energy sector.
Washington has been a leader in energy innovation in the past decades and has pursued transformative work
to commercialize energy technology and grid. State support for energy innovation has been motivated by a
nexus of research institutions, utilities, private entities and government programs with the underlying targets of
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and shifting to increasingly cost-competitive clean energy technologies.
Leading research institutions are driven by a desire to publish innovative research around cutting-edge
methodologies and technology platforms to address the clean energy transformation. The ability to
operationalize these research outcomes for deployment on the electric distribution system. A gap exists
between the published research and what is practical to implement certify and deploy on the grid. Energy
utilities on the other hand have market and regulatory constraints that hinder innovation. Utilities are required
to deliver their product at the lowest cost with no service interruptions and do not currently have clear authority
and funding to pursue.
To support the state's commitment to increase innovation in the energy sector, including within utilities, there
must be a clear pathway that enables innovation and moves research tools and methodologies from the lab to
testing, certification and training facilities in use by practitioners in the field. The state must also support an
ecosystem that keeps scientists and innovators in the state to help lead technologies in deploying grid scale
technologies out of the lab and onto the grid. Washington state should take a proactive effort to promote the
development of energy delivery programs that bridge the gap between research and development to
professional practice. A specific step the state should consider includes to:
Convene representatives from the state's higher education research universities, PNNL and other
leading private nonprofit research organizations with practitioners including the state's utilities to gain
an understanding of where the gaps between research and professional practice are most pronounced
and highlight the greatest opportunities to bridge this gap and encourage the advancement of clean
energy technologies and practices throughout the state
This work will be partly supported by the work of the Energy and Climate Policy Advisory Committee (ECPAC),
a committee that formed under the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA). The committee’s charge is to
review and analyze the historical distributions and benefits from the Clean Energy Fund (CEF) programs, and
recommend programmatic adjustments to the CEF investments to better meet the state’s climate goals and to
take full advantage of opportunities to boost the state economy.
The overarching goal is to create an ecosystem that supports a road map from research concept to product
deployment on the grid. Supporting state development of research ideas can be done through early stage
research such as the work at the University of Washington's Clean Energy Test Beds, where entrepreneurs can
perform rigorous tests on materials as they attempt to scale up technology.22 There is also support for early
stage commercialization, such as the Cascadia Clean Tech Accelerator23 and further funding for early stage
clean tech from angel funding or CEF grants supporting research development and deployment of new clean
22 https://www.cei.washington.edu/facilities/testbeds/
23 https://cascadiacleantech.org/
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 45
energy technology.24 Providing support at various stages in this pipeline, teaching entrepreneurs how to
leverage this money and providing other training and professional development can help transform ideas in the
lab to Washington state businesses. Organizations like the Clean Tech Alliance and GridForward also provide
places where the nexus of research, innovation and policy can come together to catalyze solutions for the next
generation of grid and distributed technology.
E-5 Design and establish market mechanisms to encourage development of
distributed generation of electricity.
The development of small-scale, distributed electricity generation projects is hampered in Washington by the
lack of a market mechanism for that electricity. This represents a missed opportunity for the state, because
distributed generation has the potential to benefit the firm or household that installs that system, the other
customers on the electricity grid, and the state’s broad energy and climate goals.
Distributed generation includes multiple technologies that operate at smaller scale than traditional central
generating stations and are located at or near the point of consumption. Common examples include solar
photovoltaic systems in a neighborhood or at a commercial site and combined heat and power systems at an
industrial facility. A distributed generation system may serve a single site, such as a home or business, or it
may operate within a microgrid at an industrial facility, a military base, or a college campus. Distributed
generation holds the potential to strengthen the reliability of the electricity grid, reduce the need for
transmission capacity and the resulting electrical losses, and accelerate the replacement of fossil fuel
generation with renewable energy.25
A market mechanism for distributed generation is important for two reasons. First, existing retail rates and
utility purchase mechanisms often do not adequately value the output of the distributed system. A distributed
system could contribute value to the regional power grid but be connected to a utility that already has
sufficient resources and no reason to purchase more. Second, the scale and operating characteristics of a
distributed generation system may not align with the energy requirements of the host facility. A well-sized
distributed system may generate more electricity than a single customer uses, or it may generate at different
times or seasons than the customer requires. The excess generation would have value to other customers, but
there is no readily available mechanism to capture that value.
Specific ways that Washington can help to identify and address these challenges include:
Explore regulations and incentives that capture fully the energy and non-energy benefits of distributed
generation.
Encourage and support development of a regional distribution market model to accelerate the adoption
and economic efficiency of demand and renewable resource programs.
Coordinate with organizations such as PNNL that are national leaders in distributed energy efforts to
identify best practices that may be most effective for the state of Washington.
Examine additional potential benefits to moving energy production closer to consumption, such as
limiting exposure to the state's forests as wildfire threats due to climate change are increasing.
24 https://www.e8angels.com/
25 United State Environmental Protection Agency, Distributed Generation of Electricity and its Environmental Impacts
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 46
Explore issues related to equity and economic opportunity. Distributed energy can decentralize the
economic benefits of renewables through community ownership models and through creation of
smaller scale projects with potential to benefit smaller businesses and communities throughout the
state.
The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is leading the nation with respect to transactive energy
markets, which would use advanced communications and control systems to automate electricity transactions
regardless of size or duration. PNNL developed a software platform called VOLTTRON, which is designed to
enable customer loads to participate with and respond to market signals. Transactive energy research is
advancing in both our region and nationally, however, a gap still exists whereby regulatory structure and market
definition are not synchronized nor complete.
E-6 Work with local governments and the State Building Code Council to develop energy codes and
sustainability standards for buildings and building materials.
Washington state is a national leader in energy codes. The State Building Code Council (SBCC) provides
independent analysis and objective advice to the legislature and the Governor’s Office on building code issues
and sets minimum code standards. Most are national model codes adopted by reference and amended at the
state level. Others, such as the Washington State Energy Code, are state-written state-specific codes. The
Washington State Energy Code has been updated to the 2018 code series (to be in effect July 1, 2020),
positioning the state well for continued efficiency gains. Energy code development is supported by the
Department of Commerce's Energy Division, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, local government and
many building professionals who volunteer to participate in the code development process.
Beginning under 2031 Washington State Energy Code, residential and nonresidential construction permitted
under the must achieve a 70% reduction in annual net energy consumption (compared to the 2006 state energy
code).26 A further goal is to construct increasingly efficient homes and buildings that help achieve the broader
goal of building zero fossil‐fuel greenhouse gas emission homes and buildings by the year 2031. 27
Specific ways that Washington state can help to encourage modernization of building codes include:
Identify best practices to move new methods, materials or products through the market development
chain, including development of product or system certifications, demonstration projects, early adopter
incentive programs, marketing, education efforts and code adoption.
Acknowledge that a key market transformation issue is the education of contractors, trades and local
government officials in the application of the energy codes.
Provide funding for and encourage the state's community and technical colleges to provide workforce
training in the application of efficient building envelope techniques and new equipment installation and
commissioning protocols.
Provide funding for and encourage local government code administrators for training related to design
review and inspections to ensure that objectives of updated building codes are being implemented
uniformly on a statewide basis.
26 RCW 19.27A.160,
27 RCW 19.27A.020.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 47
Recognize that adding clean energy to codes and standards is an equitable way to ensure that all are
benefitting from the transition to sustainable buildings.28 Living in a state-of-the-art building should be
available to renters and residents in multifamily buildings and low-income and affordable housing units
as well.
To date the development of the state energy code has focused on adopting building features that provide cost-
effective energy savings designed to meet the 70% energy reduction goal by 2031. Washington should
consider enhancements to this strategy that assure the codes align well with state carbon emissions reduction
targets29 and the opportunities the Clean Energy Transformation Act creates30. Passive strategies such as
passive solar heating and daylighting have high potential for further development and integration in energy
codes to encourage implementation in new and renovated buildings. Increasing the application of such
strategies in buildings can help meet the 70% goal, especially since 36% of end-use energy consumed by
buildings in the U.S. is for space heating and 7.5% is for electric lighting31. Additionally, 31percent of residential
buildings end-use energy consumption in our region is for space heating, the largest among all end uses.32
Codes should further encourage demand reduction and the types of advanced control systems noted in the
section below. This may require structural changes to the way codes are written and implemented.
To achieve the long-term objectives of energy codes, Washington needs market transformation programs.
Efforts are required to move new methods, materials or products through the market development chain. This
includes development of product or system certifications, demonstration projects, early adopter incentive
programs, marketing, education efforts and finally code adoption. The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
provide leadership in market transformation, and its members have been key partners in the development of
new code efforts. They accomplish this work through coordination with state and local government,
engineering, marketing and education organizations. The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance is an alliance of
more than 140 northwest utilities and energy efficiency organizations and should be further leveraged to
support energy efficiency, conservation and weatherization efforts.
E-7 Promote growth in connected buildings by developing new information and
communication technology applications that maximize energy and systems management
efficiencies.
Connected buildings use an integrated set of technology, systems and infrastructure to optimize performance
and occupant experience.33 The commercial real estate industry rightly sees connected buildings as a pathway
to improve performance, reduce energy consumption and minimize the life-cycle cost of assets. Connected
buildings provide an opportunity for building owners to participate in future transactive energy markets.
28 https://www.aceee.org/white-paper/solar-and-ee-042519
29 ESSHB 2311, AN ACT Relating to amending state greenhouse gas emission limits for consistency with the most recent assessment
of climate change science, state of Washington 66th Legislature, 2020. http://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-
20/Pdf/Bills/House%20Passed%20Legislature/2311-S2.PL.pdf?q=20200316155246
30 ESSSB 5115, Clean energy – electric utilities – various provisions, state of Washington 66th Legislature, 2019.
https://lawfilesext.leg.wa.gov/biennium/2019-20/Pdf/Bills/Session%20Laws/Senate/5116-S2.SL.pdf
31 http://web.archive.org/web/20130215152046/http://buildingsdatabook.eren.doe.gov/TableView.aspx?table=1.1.5
32 https://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/data/2015/c&e/pdf/ce3.5.pdf
33 Connected building definition provided by the Telecommunication Industry Association’s smart Building Working Group 2020
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 48
Owners are increasingly demanding that commercial buildings demonstrate similar functionality as smart
homes and cars have realized in the past decade.
Washington state can lead the market for smart building transformation through thoughtful policy and
research investment. The state was an early leader in design-build construction methodology, unlocking higher
building performance and enabling better owner outcomes through the construction process. A similar
opportunity exists for Washington to lead the development of standards, open protocols and demonstration
cases to unlock innovation in the digital transformation of the built environment.
To promote a statewide increase in connected buildings, Washington state should:
Evaluate pilot projects for best practices that may be effectively be scaled to other communities
throughout the state.
Invest in demonstration projects linking smart buildings and smart cities with the goal of generating
greater investment with proven results.
Enable greater neighborhood scale or decentralized energy resource sharing.
Support development of protocols and standards for building data.
Enable market signals for real-time utility services to better align supply and demand of energy
resources.
Washington should be a leader in piloting projects demonstrating the unique value created by smart and
connected buildings. Pilots could provide a test case for the following:
Leveraging clusters of smart buildings to create broader community services, i.e., leveraging data to
enable energy sharing between entities
Extracting richer data sets and communication layers that allow buildings to better mimic natural
resource flows and better align their consumption of resources with real-time availability
Presenting data from smart building systems to provide feedback to tenant and occupants to optimize
behavior and better manage resources
New thought leadership around design and build of interconnected smart building systems that not
only have the ability to provide critical information for decision-making, but also automated response to
external signals
Enabling commercial buildings, the onsite energy plants serving them, building operators and
operations and building tenants to respond to grid-based market signals to optimize the delivery and
flow of energy resources.
Today, buildings and the technology within them are designed, procured and operated in silos. Each system
serves a singular task (control HVAC system, control elevator system, fire alarm system, lighting control
system) and operates within a siloed communication infrastructure. Advancements in building wireless
communication technology, aligned with mass rollout of 5G networks, will enable the implementation of a new
common information and communication layer within buildings. This communication platform must be
accompanied by new protocols and data standards in order to unlock scalable, cost-effective solutions.
An open source platform will be essential to deploy dispatchable demand response and distributed energy
resources in a plug-and-play and cost-effective manner. The energy providers will require a technology
architecture to springboard the clean energy transformation for Washington and the rest of the nation.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 49
The state of Washington is uniquely postured to lead the nation in the development of a DERMS platform, with
its national labs, university research institutions, utility providers, technology industry leaders and adopted
climate policy goals. This energy platform will enable an ecosystem for different third party applications and
off-the-shelf renewable energy systems and services to seamlessly interconnect and participate in the delivery
of clean energy. Empowered by this platform, electric energy prosumers (those both producing and consuming
energy) will be able to participate in regional distribution markets that license the trading of renewable, energy
and demand products.
E-8 Prioritize cyber security as information and communication technology is
increasingly integrated throughout sectors of the green economy.
Cyber security threats are potentially enormous. They will become even larger concerns as we move to
integrate information and communication technology (ICT) in sectors of the green economy. As systems move
toward greater interoperability and communications, they open portals for hacking and disruption. Washington
is home to some of the top technology companies in the world with the talent to help protect the ICT systems
that sectors of the green economy will increasingly depend upon. Cyber security should be a top priority for
state and national security, utilities and water and energy industries.
Washington state should:
Research existing federal agencies' support programs and develop a Washington state energy and
utilities cyber clearinghouse to provide both public agency and private industry partners the access to
training resources that are available. Access and knowledge will enable the safe and cyber-secure
adoption of the infrastructure while ensuring the wide-scale interconnected grid operating, delivery and
transmission systems are securely operated.
Regularly coordinate and develop the appropriate training for Wi-Fi and mesh network endpoint risk
identification with appropriate state and regional agencies.
Maintain a database of cyber-secure compliant products and provide public agencies access to expert
guidance and appropriate training for personnel. Ensure administrative and political decision makers
get timely information that will enable budgetary allowances for systemic and endpoint upgrades for
telecommunication systems that interface with critical infrastructure.
Educate public agencies, utilities, planning and building departments on cyber systems risks and
solutions. Email, web-based and insider personnel risks include counter-cyber human resource training
to spot and identify personnel and intern candidates whose behavior puts their client agencies or
employers at risk. Safe, mirror systems and hard storage of information systems backups combat
ransomware-related crimes that can render networks inoperable and data inaccessible.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 50
E-9 Identify and avoid statutory barriers to the development of renewable energy
facilities.
Washington state should take a proactive role in reviewing energy siting statutes at the state and local level to
promote early identification and avoidance of land use conflicts with the development of utility-scale
renewable energy facilities.
Washington state's aggressive renewable energy goals, accompanied by the continued downward trend in the
cost of renewable energy, will result in an increasing market for renewable energy projects, including wind
farms and utility-scale solar energy installations. Local opposition and conflicts with other critical state and
local policy priorities have the potential to slow the adoption of needed renewable energy capacity. Energy
facilities have faced opposition over changes to rural visual character, loss of farmland and obstruction of
critical military training routes. With good advance planning, a well-designed facility in the right location can
produce the needed energy and avoid these conflicts.
Commerce, the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, local governments and affected stakeholders
should review project development processes to identify ways to streamline project review while
avoiding land use conflicts involving renewable energy facilities.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 51
Energy - Transportation Sector Recommendations and
Opportunities
In Washington state, greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector account for 46% of the state's
total greenhouse gas emissions compared with approximately 27% for the nation as a whole.34 This difference
is largely attributed to Washington relying heavily on hydroelectric power plants whereas many areas of the
country depend heavily on non-renewable energy sources. For Washington state, decarbonizing the
transportation sector must be a strong priority to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions. A more
complete assessment of opportunities throughout the entire transportation sector is warranted, yet outside the
scope of this report. Some key energy recommendations for the transportation sector are included here as
examples of opportunities for consideration, but are not intended to represent a comprehensive analysis of the
transportation sector.
E-10 Develop smart grid energy infrastructure needed for the future clean energy transportation
system.
A significant statewide shift to electric vehicles will greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the
transportation sector. Battery technologies are rapidly advancing, which will lead to the availability of many
new electric vehicles (EVs) in the next few years. While over time EVs offer significant operational savings over
internal combustion engine vehicles, the initial purchase price is often higher and federal tax incentives are
beginning to phase out. Washington state should continue to provide financial incentives, direct investments
and technical assistance to support the electrification of fleet and personal vehicles, including the installation
of public charging infrastructure.
Ongoing development and advancement of the smart grid is essential to facilitate widespread adoption of
electric vehicles. A typical electric passenger car uses an average of 30 kWh to go 100 miles (nearly as much
energy as an average home uses daily), highlighting the need to develop a smart, resilient, reliable and
affordable clean energy system to support widespread electrification of the transportation sector.35
E-11 Prioritize transportation programs and investments that move Washington state toward
a carbon-neutral transportation sector.
Washington state has received a one-time $140 million state settlement from Volkswagen for violating state
and federal clean air laws. The state is directing the funds to investments that improve air quality and reduce
emissions, primarily nitrogen oxides, from transportation. As new funding sources become available,
Washington should consider building on these as well as other investments and programs making progress
34 Deep Decarbonization Pathways Analysis for Washington State, 2015
35 www.fueleconomy.gov
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 52
toward decarbonization of the state's transportation sector. Below are examples of projects or programs that
the state should consider expanding or increasing resources for:
Transit. To date, over $34 million in settlement funds and state appropriations has been awarded for
electric hybrid buses and charging infrastructure at transit agencies in 11 counties. Awards of up to
$500,000 per bus contribute to cover the costs to switch from diesel to all-electric.
Ferries. WSDOT is moving forward with plans to convert two of the largest ferries in the fleet to diesel-
electric hybrid propulsion and to construct a third. Running just one of the state's biggest ferries
primarily on electricity as compared to diesel will cut carbon dioxide emissions by 172,000 tons and
nitrogen oxide emissions by 1,540 tons over its operational.
Electric vehicle. Based on Executive Order 20-01 and existing law in WAC 194-28, executive agencies in
Washington must prioritize purchase of battery-electric light and medium-duty vehicles. As of 2020, the
state has set a goal that at least 50% of all new state government passenger vehicle purchases be
electric. Up to $5.5 million in state VW settlement funds will go to add electric vehicles to state agency
fleets, and $1 million from the 2020 supplemental transportation budget will support associated
charging infrastructure. Department of Ecology is currently reviewing applications from state and local
governments for an additional $2,250,000 in federal VW settlement funds. Completing the purchase
and installation of chargers at state-owned and leased facilities alone will require an estimated $4
million in additional funds. These investments will achieve significant savings in fuel and maintenance
costs, while reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution. Finally, a reduction or elimination of or credit
toward the state sales tax on vehicles should be implemented to continue to incentivize a consumer
shift to electric vehicles.
Freight and goods movement. To improve air quality and reduce diesel emissions in communities
around seaports, $1.2 million in state VW settlement funds was awarded to the Northwest Seaport
Alliance to help scrap and replace aging drayage trucks with clean diesel technology. An additional
$3.6 million in federal VW settlements funds will be awarded to ports in the summer of 2020 to install
shore power for ocean-going vessels.
School buses. More than 3,000 school buses in Washington are 17 years old or older. These buses use
technology that emits substantially more pollution than today's options. To date, $12 million in state
VW settlement funds has been awarded to purchase 336 buses statewide in 83 school districts. Each
$35,000 award roughly covers the costs to purchase clean diesel technology or upgrade to a clean
propane engine.36 Additional progress has been made in recent years, thanks to funding from state and
federal diesel emission reduction programs. Electrification of school buses is the obvious next step,
and Ecology will soon issue awards of $12 million in federal VW settlement funds to purchase new, all-
electric buses. The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Office of Financial
Management should closely consider electrification as they conduct their review of K-12 transportation
funding, including alignment with existing statute, during the summer of 2020.
Aviation. WSDOT was directed to identify up to six airports in Washington state that may benefit from a
pilot program once electrically propelled aircraft become available for commercial use. The six sites
will allow for performance evaluations as electric aircraft technology matures and may offer
communities the opportunity to restore, expand or establish commercial air service. The state should
further leverage the expertise of University of Washington’s Clean Energy Institute (CEI) whose mission
is to reduce or eliminate carbon, including that caused by fuel powered aircraft.
36 Washington State Department of Ecology, https://ecology.wa.gov/Air-Climate/Air-quality/Vehicle-emissions/Volkswagen-
enforcement-action/VW-state-enforcement-action
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 53
Partner with the CEI to influence international electric aircraft manufacturers to design, develop and
launch these aircraft in Washington.
Create a progressive business environment where international aircraft companies are selecting
Washington state as a center of excellence for electric aviation.
Support the buildout of a testing facility in Washington state for electric aircraft that includes a
state-of-the-art wind tunnel.
Invest in upgraded infrastructure to provide ground-based and air-based testing for electric aircraft.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 54
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 55
Appendix A: Green Economy Working Group Members
Table 1: Green Economy Working Group Membership
Organization Name Title
Association of Washington Cities Andy Meyer Special Projects Coordinator
AVISTA John Gibson Chief R&D Engineer
Center for Sustainable Infrastructure Rhys Roth Executive Director
Chelan County PUD Justin Erickson Managing Director, Shared Services
CleanTech Alliance Tom Ranken President and CEO
Dept. of Agriculture Evan Sheffels Senior Policy Advisor to the Director
Dept. of Commerce Michael Furze Assistant Director, Energy Division
Dept. of Natural Resources Anne Nelson Executive Policy Advisor
Economic Alliance of Snohomish County Patrick Pierce Executive Director
Front and Centered Deric Gruen Program Director
Director of Infrastructure Initiatives and
HDR Genesee Adkins
External Affairs
McKinstry Dale Silha Vice President — Pacific Northwest Region
Puget Sound Energy Ben Farrow Manager New Product Development
Puget Sound Regional Council Jason Thibedeau Principal Economic Development Manager
Pure Blue Ryan Vogel Executive Director
Spokane Tribe Mike Tedesco Executive Director
South Puget Sound Community College Jason Selwitz Dean of Applied Technology
TRIDEC David Reeploeg Vice President for Federal Programs
Washington State Association of Counties Paul Jewell Policy Director
Washington Farm Bureau Tom Davis Director of Government Relations
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 56
Organization Name Title
Washington State Board for Community
Nate Humphrey Director, Workforce Education
and Technical Colleges
Washington State Forest Protection
Jason Callahan Director of Government Relations
Association
Washington State Labor Council Larry Brown President
Director, WSDOT Innovative Partnerships
Dept. of Transportation Anthony L. Buckley
Program
Director, Metropolitan Center for Applied
Washington State University Brad Gaolach
Research and Extension
Lead Author of Growing the Green Economy in
Paul Roberts & Associates LLC Paul Roberts Washington State: Exploring an Eco-nomic
Center
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 57
Appendix B: Higher Education Resources
This is an inventory of higher education development resources to foster green economic development in
energy, water, agriculture, and forestry.
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
CWU is the first university in the Pacific Northwest with https://www.cwu.
an institute that addresses energy issues from both edu/programs/int
conventional and alternative energy sources, with a egrated-energy- BS Integrated
Central
special focus on energy management. The Institute for management- Energy
Washington
Integrated Energy Studies provides a unique 1#2879 Management
University
interdisciplinary approach to provide education, research,
and training in the areas of conventional and renewable
energy resources.
https://www.cwu.
Central Environmental Geosciences focuses on the interactions
edu/programs/ge BS Environmental
Washington between solid Earth and the atmosphere and
ology#2861 Geosciences
University hydrosphere, including groundwater, soils, and climate.
Environmental Studies helps you understand the
https://www.cwu.
Central challenges facing our environment. The interdisciplinary
edu/programs/en BS Environmental
Washington program incorporates biology, geography, and geology to
vironmental- Studies
University offer a comprehensive view of the world and how we can
studies
ensure it continues to thrive.
The Ecology and Evolution Specialization is designed for https://www.cwu.
BS Ecology &
Central students broadly interested in basic and applied biology, edu/programs/bi
Evolutionary
Washington natural resource management, agriculture, ecological ological-
Biology
University restoration, conservation biology, disease dynamics, sciences#2893#2
Specialization
animal behavior, and biological research. 893#2893
The public health profession focuses on preventing
disease, addressing inequities and developing policies https://www.cwu.
Central
and programs that help communities achieve optimal edu/programs/he
Washington BS Public Health
health and wellbeing. Our program aims to educate and alth-
University
empower the emerging generation of public health sciences#2931
leaders.
Want to improve your understanding of the world around
Central https://www.cwu.
you? Want to learn the details behind current important
Washington edu/programs/ge BA Geology
topics like climate, hydrogeology, environmental and
University ology#2862
geologic hazards? Then geology is a good fit for you.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 58
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
You might say you take your life in your hands when you
study biology. That’s because it is literally the study of
life—all life—from one-celled organisms to multi-species
https://www.cwu.
habitats. And when you study the biosphere at CWU, you
Central edu/programs/bi
will receive hands-on learning from award winning BS/ BA Biological
Washington ological-
professors. Gain an understanding of biological concepts Sciences
University sciences#2893#2
relevant to the individual and to society and gain an
893#2893
appreciation of scientific inquiry. Studying biology helps
us decipher many social and economic issues and is at
the forefront of environmental issues.
Environmental Science is an interdisciplinary field that
combines physical, chemical and biological sciences
with social, political and economic understanding needed
https://www.ewu.
to study the environment and address environmental
edu/cstem/enviro
Eastern problems. The Environmental Science program BS Environmental
nmental-
Washington integrates classroom work in biology, chemistry, geology Science with
science/environm
University and social sciences (economics and planning) with Biology option
ental-biology-
extensive field, lab and research experience. All students
option-bs/
take a core of Environmental Science courses
complemented by a concentration in one of the three
core sciences (biology, chemistry, and geology).
Areas of study include sustainable development, https://www.ever
Evergreen
environmental policies, ethics, ecology, landscape green.edu/studie BA/BS/BAS
State
architecture, city and regional planning, economics, s/sustainability- Sustainability
College
natural resources, sociology, and anthropology. studies
Geology integrates a range of scientific disciplines to
Evergreen https://www.ever
gain a comprehensive understanding of the Earth, the BA/BS/BAS
State green.edu/studie
relationships between rocks, water, chemistry, biology, Geology
College s/geology
and the environment, in the context of a changing world.
In this program, students learn introductory plant biology
in an integrated way with cultural studies. You'll learn
about plant anatomy, morphology, evolution, and
systematics. Lectures based on textbook readings
supplement the laboratory work. The learning community
explores how present form and function inform us about
the evolution of major groups of plants such as mosses,
ferns, conifers, and flowering plants. Gain hands-on https://www.ever
Evergreen
experience studying plants under microscopes and in the green.edu/catalo
State BA/BS/BAS Botany
field. You'll also learn how to maintain a detailed and g/offering/botany
College
illustrated nature journal to develop basic identification -20767
skills of local native species of plants. We'll cover basic
botanical illustration skills to support this work. This
program also focuses on people's relationships with
plants through seminar texts, films, and lectures. We'll
examine ecological interactions and cultural factors that
shape the relationships plants have with the
environment, including humans and other organisms.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 59
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
This interdisciplinary field brings together the natural and
https://www.ever
Evergreen social sciences to give you skills to study the BA/BS/BAS
green.edu/studie
State environment in all its complexities, and engage with Environmental
s/path/environme
College government to develop policy to effectively solve Studies
ntal-studies
environmental problems.
This program will focus on intensive group and individual
field research on current topics in ecological science.
These topics will include forest structure, ecosystem
ecology, effects of forest management, ecological
restoration, riparian ecology, fire history, bird abundance
and monitoring, insect-plant interactions, and https://evergreen.
Evergreen
disturbance ecology. Students will be expected to edu/catalog/offer BA/BS/BAS
State
intensively use the primary literature and student-driven ing/field-ecology- Ecology
College
field research to address observations about ecological 16325
composition, structure, and function. Multiple
independent and group research projects will form the
core of our work in local forests of the south Puget
Sound lowlands, national forests, national parks, state
forests, and other relevant natural settings.
We all eat food. But how is good food raised, grown, or
foraged, by whom, and at what cost? How does food get
from the farm to our table? What is the connection
between soil, food, health, and the languages used to
describe our experiences of it? This interdisciplinary Path
https://www.ever
Evergreen provides not only an intellectual exploration of food and
green.edu/studie BA/BS/BAS Food &
State agriculture, but also practical hands-on approaches to
s/path/food-and- Agriculture
College food production and the science of post-harvest
agriculture
processing. Learn to read the land and weather, get field-
based learning, understand sustainable food production,
follow entire growing season from seed to harvest to
market and put the science of soils, plants and resource
management into practice.
You'll learn to grow food for yourself and others in the
broader community, using ecologically informed
methods of farming while also learning management and
Evergreen https://www.ever
business skills appropriate for small-scale production. BA/BS/BAS
State green.edu/studie
You’ll focus on Northwest crop and livestock species— Agriculture
College s/agriculture
including orchard fruit, potatoes, sheep, and poultry—and
be able to study chemistry, microbiology, and anatomy in
a highly practical and experiential context.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 60
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
We are pleased to offer one of the only Bachelor of
Science in Native Environmental Science programs in the
world. Our cutting-edge program is designed to support https://www.nwic
students in becoming leaders in their fields and in their .edu/life-on-
Northwest communities. Our curriculum is place-based, experiential, campus/degrees-
BS Native
Indian and culturally-grounded. That is, we draw on the deep and-
Environmental
College and sustained connections to place and commitment to certificates/b-s-
Science
environmental protection to guide our programming. Our in-native-
students excel in understanding the changing world environmental-
around them by working within Indigenous Knowledge science/
Systems and utilizing cutting-edge scientific methods,
technology, and tools.
Atmospheric sciences is a wide-ranging discipline that
includes topics as diverse as weather forecasting, global
warming, air quality, Pacific Northwest weather and
http://www.washi
climate, mountain weather, marine weather, El Nino, the BS/MS
University of ngton.edu/studen
ozone hole, ice ages, and the weather of Mars. It Atmospheric
Washington ts/gencat/acade
considers problems that are both scientifically Sciences
mic/atms.html
challenging and critical for the welfare of modern
society. These problems are addressed with theory,
measurements, and computer simulations.
Building on a foundation of natural science, social
science, and humanities courses, the curriculum offers
http://www.washi
students flexibility in choosing an individual course of
University of ngton.edu/studen BA Program on the
study. Internship, research, and study abroad
Washington ts/gencat/acade Environment
opportunities develop skills and leadership for careers in
mic/envir.html
environmental policy, sustainability, conservation,
education, or consulting.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 61
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
Civil and environmental engineering is a profession
which interfaces closely with society in the planning,
design, construction, and management of facilities
serving the needs of people. These activities focus on:
transportation infrastructure and construction; heavy
construction; hydrology and hydrodynamics; structures,
mechanics, and geotechnical engineering; drinking water
and wastewater treatment, and water quality
management; solid- and hazardous-waste disposal; and
air quality management.
A civil engineer may specialize in one or several of these
activities and may further specialize in a particular
function, such as design or management. The work
http://www.washi Bachelor/Masters
frequently provides close associations with the legal
University of ngton.edu/studen of Science in Civil
profession, urban and regional planners, economists,
Washington ts/gencat/acade or Environmental
public officials, biologists, chemists, financial
mic/cive.html Engineering
consultants, architects, and system analysts. Education
and practice require a consideration not only of the
technological-science aspects of a particular problem
but also of its relationship to social, economic, political,
and environmental constraints. Civil and environmental
engineers create and maintain infrastructure in a heavily
human-influenced ecosystem.
To accommodate these wide interests, the department is
organized into six academic areas: construction
engineering; transportation engineering; geotechnical
engineering; structural engineering and mechanics;
environmental engineering; and hydrology and
hydrodynamics.
Environmental health focuses on identifying, evaluating,
and controlling environmental conditions that may have BS/MS
an adverse impact on human health. Examples of Environmental
problem areas requiring environmental health expertise Health/ MPH
are assuring adequate quality and quantity of food and Environmental &
drinking water, safe treatment and disposal of domestic http://www.washi Occupational
University of and industrial waste materials, limiting or reducing air ngton.edu/studen Health/MPH
Washington and noise pollution, limiting occupational exposure to ts/gencat/acade Occupational &
hazardous substances and unsafe conditions, assuring mic/envh.html Environmental
safe and healthful housing, controlling the spread of Medicine/MS
insect- and rodent-borne illness, proper selection and use Occupational &
of pesticides, and understanding the effects of global Environmental
changes in climate and the atmosphere on human Exposure Sciences
health.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 62
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
Landscape architecture is a professional design
discipline that addresses both the built and natural
environments. It focuses on the design, analysis, and
planning of outdoor spaces across a wide range of
scales, with the intent of creating places that are both
meaningful and functional. Landscape architects design
everything from infrastructure elements, such as
roadways, drainage systems, and parks, to prominent http://www.washi
Bachelor/ Masters
University of cultural monuments and gardens for public and private ngton.edu/studen
of Landscape
Washington housing units. The education of a landscape architect ts/gencat/acade
Architecture
includes aesthetic design skills, the development of mic/larch.html
social and environmental ethics, technical design skills,
knowledge of a wide range of natural processes, an
awareness of design history, and skills for working with
other people. At the University of Washington, the focus
is on urban ecological design education, which allows
students to make a difference in the future of cities and
urban regions all over the world.
Oceanography - study of the marine environment and its
interactions with the earth, the biosphere, and the
atmosphere - is prompted both by the intellectual desire
to understand how the oceans move and how life
develops in a salty, cold environment, and the need to
use wisely the ocean's resources for the benefit of
humanity. As an interdisciplinary science, oceanography
http://www.washi
integrates the basic principles of biology, chemistry,
University of ngton.edu/studen BA/ BS/ MS
geology, physics, geophysics, mathematics, botany,
Washington ts/gencat/acade Oceanography
zoology, meteorology, and geography. Applications of
mic/ocean.html
high technology to oceanographic instrumentation and
vessels, increasingly sophisticated computers, satellite
remote sensing, and innovative methodologies are
rapidly opening new possibilities for exploration and
study. Oceanography is divided into four areas of
emphasis: Biological, chemical, marine geology and
geophysics, physical.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 63
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences (SAFS)
encompasses multi-disciplinary programs at the
interface between the traditional fields of natural history,
environmental biology, and natural resource
management. Primary foci are the management of
sustainable fisheries of commercially important species;
biocomplexity and ecosystem-based management; and
sustainable aquaculture. In addition, human-induced
effects on natural ecosystems (including habitat change
and restoration, impacts of climate change, emerging
diseases, the effects of invasive species, and processes
http://www.washi
affecting endangered species and declining populations)
University of ngton.edu/studen BS/ MS Aquatic
are major areas of research. In pursuit of these
Washington ts/gencat/acade and Fishery Science
objectives, a variety of basic sciences are used, including
mic/fish.html
ecology and evolution, population biology, behavior,
physiology, microbiology, and genetics. The scope of
aquatic systems ranges from watersheds, rivers and
lakes, to estuarine and near-shore shelf, open ocean
systems and culture facilities. Graduates of the School of
Aquatic and Fishery Sciences are uniquely qualified for
careers in universities as well as other educational
settings, natural resources management agencies at the
local to international levels, environmental consulting,
and non-profit organizations with an environmental
focus.
The school's programs focus on the sustainability and
functionality of complex natural resource and
environmental systems, using an integrated,
interdisciplinary approach across multiple scales
involving the urban-to-wildland gradient. Its programs
serve society generally, and natural resource professions BS/ MS od Science
in particular, with graduates well equipped to contribute or Master of
http://www.washi
to discussions and solutions to resource problems Environmental
University of ngton.edu/studen
facing the region and the world. Interdisciplinary Horticulture or
Washington ts/gencat/acade
research and outreach centers and cooperatives include Master of Forest
mic/sefs.html
the Center for International Trade in Forest Products Resources
(CINTRAFOR), the Water Center, the UW Botanic Gardens, Management
which include the Center for Urban Horticulture and the
Washington Park Arboretum, the Olympic National
Resources Center (ONRC), the Stand Management
Cooperative (SMC), and the Precision Forestry
Cooperative.
The bioresource science and engineering (BSE) degree is
for students seeking training in chemical and physical
https://sefs.uw.e Bioresource
sciences and chemical engineering as applied to
University of du/students/und Science and
manufacturing fiber products, fuels and chemicals from
Washington ergraduate/bse- Engineering (BSE)
biomass resources. It emphasizes the application of
major/ Major
mathematics, chemistry and engineering to paper and
bioresources-based industries.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 64
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
As one of the first such degrees in the nation, students
will be prepared to address recent initiatives that have
https://www.taco
called for a significant “greening” of urban development,
ma.uw.edu/urban
University of both locally and internationally. Graduates will be
- BA Sustainable
Washington prepared for careers in planning agencies, corporations
studies/sustaina Urban Development
Tacoma adhering to sustainability practices, consulting firms,
ble-urban-
nonprofit organizations, and environmental/resource
development
related agencies at the local, state, and federal levels of
government.
The bachelor of arts degree in Environmental
Sustainability prepares students to understand, analyze,
and solve environmental and sustainability challenges.
Interdisciplinary foundations in environmental sciences,
including natural and social sciences, combine with
training in communications, writing, law, critical
University of perspectives, and emerging sustainability science. https://www.taco
BA Environmental
Washington Students also choose one of four options for in-depth ma.uw.edu/node/
Sustainability
Tacoma study: Environmental Policy and Law; Environmental 46527
Communication; Business/Nonprofit Environmental
Sustainability; or Pre-Environmental Education. A
capstone course or certificate links students to real-
world projects, internships, and/or research. An
organizing theme throughout the major is coupled
human and natural systems.
The bachelor of science degree in Environmental Science
provides students with a strong science background with
a focus on the environmental issues of the future.
Through lecture, lab and field classes, you will get hands-
on experience with biology, chemistry, the geosciences,
University of physics and math. In this program students learn how to https://www.taco
BS Environmental
Washington draw connections between these disciplines needed to ma.uw.edu/node/
Science
Tacoma solve the complex environmental problems facing the 40367
local community and society at large. As part of the
School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, this degree
allows you to combine diverse approaches to the
environment which incorporate humanities and the social
sciences.
https://gradscho
Environmental and natural resource sciences comprise
ol.wsu.edu/degre
an association of several areas of study at WSU. These
es/factsheet/doc PhD Philosophy in
Washington sciences focus on factors related to the understanding
tor-of-philosophy- Environmental &
State and management of the environment and therefore have
environmental- Natural Resource
University a commonality of interest. The Ph.D. program provides
and-natural- Science
opportunities for doctoral study that involve integration
resource-
and interaction among these various fields of science.
sciences/
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 65
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
From earth science to ecology, from global change to
environmental sustainability, School of the Environment
https://environm
Washington (SoE) undergraduate students master both scientific BS Earth &
ent.wsu.edu/unde
State tools and practical skills that kick start a meaningful Environmental
rgraduate-
University career in a rapidly changing world with majors in: Earth Sciences
studies/
Science, Environmental & Ecosystem Sciences, Forestry
or Wildlife Ecology& Conservation Sciences
IPS majors explore the science of plant development and
production from the perspectives of a variety of
disciplines. All students in the program take a core set of
interdisciplinary courses selected specifically to give
Washington
them a solid foundation on which they can build http://ips.wsu.ed BS Integrated Plant
State
expertise in a specific discipline. There are seven majors u/ Sciences
University
from which to choose: Agricultural Biotechnology, Field
Crop Management, Fruit & Vegetable Management,
Landscape, Nursery & Greenhouse Management, Turf
grass Management or Viticulture & Enology.
The Agricultural and Food Systems degree program is an
exciting, college-wide, interdisciplinary program that
Washington offers a Bachelor of Science degree with five majors
http://afs.wsu.ed BS Agricultural &
State from which to choose: Agricultural Technology &
u/ Food Systems
University Production Management, Agricultural Education, Organic
& Sustainable Agriculture, Agricultural & Food Business
Economics or Agriculture & Food Security.
https://gradscho
ol.wsu.edu/degre
The department of Biological Systems Engineering
Washington es/factsheet/mas MS Biological &
integrates the biological sciences and engineering for the
State ter-of-science-in- Agricultural
development of engineering solutions to agricultural,
University biological-and- Engineering
food and natural systems.
agricultural-
engineering/
https://gradscho
The department offers the PhD degree with four research ol.wsu.edu/degre
PhD Philosophy in
Washington areas of emphasis: Bioenergy and Bioproducts es/factsheet/doc
Biological &
State Engineering; Food Engineering; Land, Air, Water tor-of-philosophy-
Agricultural
University Resources and Environmental Engineering; and biological-and-
Engineering
Agricultural Automation Engineering. agricultural-
engineering/
https://gradscho
The Graduate Certificate in Sustainable Agriculture
ol.wsu.edu/degre Graduate
Washington increases knowledge and employment potential in any
es/factsheet/gra Certificate in
State position focused on sustainability. This will include
duate-certificate- Sustainable
University educational, commercial, and research endeavors for
in-sustainable- Agriculture
production, processing, or policy.
agriculture/
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 66
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
https://gradscho
The M.S. in Agriculture program is designed to provide
Washington ol.wsu.edu/degre
practitioners and professionals with an opportunity to
State es/factsheet/mas MS Agriculture
strengthen and diversify their expertise in agriculture-
University ter-of-science-in-
related disciplines.
agriculture/
The MS degree is an interdisciplinary program with the
https://gradscho
flexibility for elective classes in the student’s own area of
ol.wsu.edu/degre
specialization. In consultation with their advisor,
Washington es/factsheet/mas
students may select classes from a wide variety of areas MS Environmental
State ter-of-science-in-
(i.e., ecosystem science and management, ecological Science
University environmental-
planning, land and water conservation, air quality
science/
management, water quality management, energy and
carbon policy, etc.).
The School of the Environment offers a program of
graduate study and research leading to a master of https://gradscho
science in natural resource sciences. The M.S. in natural ol.wsu.edu/degre
Washington resource sciences emphasizes original research by the es/factsheet/mas
MS Natural
State student. This degree provides an atmosphere of ter-of-science-in-
Resource Sciences
University scholarship coupled with research opportunities that natural-resource-
produces people capable of responding to the sciences/
complicated issues of use, management, and protection
of the environment and its natural resources.
The School of Biological Systems Engineering offers PhD
and MS degrees in four general research emphasis
areas:
Agricultural automation engineering - Develop
engineering solutions for processes and equipment to
meet the needs of specialty crop production.
Bioenergy and bioproducts engineering - Develop
engineering processes to produce useful, high-value
products from the byproducts of agricultural operations https://bsyse.ws MS, PhD in
Washington
and other sources of plant biomass. u.edu/ Biological and
State
Food engineering - The application of engineering to the Agricultural
University
production of safe, nutritious food. engineering
Land, air, water resources and environmental engineering
(LAWREE) - Engineering applications related to
hydrologic processes at the field level or at the scale of
large watersheds. Application of engineering and
biological principles to the study the environmental
impact of managed biological systems, including
agriculture, confined animal operations, aquaculture, and
natural resources.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 67
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
WSU’s Master of Science in Agriculture degree, Plant
Health Management option combines WSU’s world-
renowned plant science graduate programs with
https://gradscho
business course in organizational management. The
ol.wsu.edu/degre
result is a high-quality MS degree to help advance your
Washington es/factsheet/mas MS Agriculture-
career. You will be qualified to manage commercial-scale
State ter-of-science-in- Plant Health
agricultural or horticultural operations and address
University agriculture-plant- Management
problems with plant pathogens, insects, and weeds, as
health-
well as environmental factors that affect plant health.
management/
You will be equipped to serve in decision-making roles
and have essential skills for maximizing plant health
using modern, scientifically sound methods.
The School of Economic Sciences in the College of BS, Economic
Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences is a sciences;
general economics program with especially strong and BS, Agricultural and
deep expertise in natural resource and environmental Food Business
Washington
economics and policy, renewable energy economics, http://ses.wsu.ed Economics
State
agricultural and food systems economics. The school u/ MS in Applied
University
offers a PhD in Economics and in Agricultural Economics
Economics, as well as a Masters of Sciences in Applied Ph.D. Economics;
economics and undergraduate degrees in economics Ph.D. Applied
with various relevant foci. Economics.
B.S.
Data Analytics tools and techniques are used by many
offered jointly by
different industries to create, manage, explore, and
the Department of
Washington analyze large, complex datasets, in order to evaluate past https://data-
Mathematics and
State performance, predict future trends, and make better analytics.wsu.edu
Statistics and the
University decisions. There has been an explosion of demand for /
School of Electrical
skilled data analysts who can communicate, solve
Engineering and
problems, and work effectively in teams.
Computer Science
All around us, massive amounts of digital data are being
captured through the Internet, sensors, sequencers,
simulations, and other similar technologies. Data science
is a rich interdisciplinary field aimed at extracting
knowledge and insight from such data. It is a field at the
intersection of a variety of disciplines, including
School of Electrical
Washington computer science, statistics, mathematics, and
https://school.ee Engineering &
State engineering, and requires unique skills to create effective
cs.wsu.edu/resea Computer Science -
University solutions.
rch/data-science/ DATA SCIENCE
sub-specialty
Researchers at WSU are developing models, algorithms,
systems, and technologies needed to advance data
science research and practice in both industry and
academia. Our faculty are actively developing a solid
data science curriculum aimed at educating the next-
generation of data scientists.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 68
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
The GridStat project is developing fundamental data
delivery technologies that will enable the smart electric
School of Electrical
power grid to make use of thousands of sophisticated
Engineering &
sensors and control devices. GridStat is a collaborative
Washington https://school.ee Computer Science -
effort of distributed systems and electric power
State cs.wsu.edu/resea DISTRIBUTED AND
researchers at WSU, with strong connections to national
University rch/distributed- NETWORKED
research programs such as Trusted Cyber Infrastructure
systems/ SYSTEMS (Cyber
for the Power Grid (TCIPG). In this project we work on
security and
performance-related aspects of data delivery as well as
electrical grids)
on techniques for ensuring secure communications and
trustworthy communicating entities.
As a core college in a Research University with Very High
research activity, as well as a land-grant university, our
mission is threefold:
BS, MS and PhD
degrees in Civil &
To conduct fundamental and applied disciplinary and
Environmental
Washington cross-cutting research that leads to new knowledge,
Engineering, as well
State transformative technology, and innovative designs. https://vcea.wsu.
as Landscape
University edu/
Architecture within
To educate and prepare students through state-of-the-art
the School of
programs, preparing them for professional careers and
Design &
leadership in engineering and design professions.
Construction
To engage people, industry, and communities to improve
quality of life and enhance economic development.
Civil and environmental engineers are responsible for
improving living standards and serving the communities
in which they live. Graduates are prepared to tackle
Bachelor of Science
challenges related to transportation infrastructure and
in Civil Engineering,
construction, hydrology and hydraulics, structures,
Bachelor of Science
geotechnical engineering, drinking water, wastewater
in Construction
treatment, hazardous-waste disposal, surface and
Washington Engineering, Master
groundwater quality, and air quality management. The
State https://ce.wsu.ed of Science in Civil
degree also prepares graduates to communicate
University u/ Engineering, Master
technical concepts to lay audiences, perform economic
of Science in
analyses, be involved with project planning and
Environmental
management, , and understand the financial, ethical, legal
Engineering, Doctor
and environmental contexts in which engineering design
of Philosophy in
is occurring. The department has tracks that specialize in
Civil Engineering
Civil/construction engineering, environmental
engineering, infrastructure engineering, structural
engineering, and water resource engineering.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 69
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
Environmental Science draws on basic knowledge of the
physical, chemical, biological, and quantitative aspects of
natural systems. The knowledge of how natural systems
work is applied to solving problems largely created by
human activities. Often these problems are represented
by disturbances in the functioning of natural systems as
humans alter their own life-support systems — the air, the
Western water and soil. The scale of disturbance ranges between https://www.wwu
Washington molecular and cellular to individuals, populations, .edu/majors/envir BS Environmental
University ecosystems, and regional and global levels. Committed onmental- Science
to creating a space for students to value, change, and science-bs
study the environment. Students in the program gain
proficiencies in applying quantitative and critical thinking
skills to environmental issues, writing and speaking
effectively to professional audiences about issues in the
field, using theoretical knowledge of environmental
sciences in real world applications, and incorporating
multiple disciplines into environmental sciences.
Environmental Science draws on basic knowledge of the
physical, chemical, biological, and quantitative aspects of
natural systems. The knowledge of how natural systems https://www.wwu
Western work is applied to solving problems largely created by .edu/majors/envir
Washington human activities. Often these problems are represented onmental- BS Environmental
University by disturbances in the functioning of natural systems as science%E2%80% Marine Science
humans alter their own life-support systems — the air, the 94marine-
water and soil. The scale of disturbance ranges between ecology-bs
molecular and cellular to individuals, populations,
ecosystems, and regional and global levels.
Prepares students to enter professional fields concerned
with the sustainability of the human and natural
environment. Studies in Environmental Policy
Western https://www.wwu
concentrate on public policy development, governance,
Washington .edu/majors/envir BA Environmental
law, and the methods and processes of planning and
University onmental-policy- Policy
decision making. By solving problems and implementing
ba
shared visions in both natural settings and urban
communities, Environmental Policy promotes positive
change in the environment.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 70
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
Students who are passionate about making positive
environmental choices and excited about teaching
people about the environment will thrive in the
Environmental Education program. By examining
interacting social and natural systems through social
sciences, natural sciences, and humanities,
Environmental Education students make intellectual
connections while gaining the practical skills necessary
Western https://www.wwu
for building socially and environmentally sustainable
Washington .edu/majors/envir BA Environmental
futures. Environmental Education at Western consists of
University onmental- Education
four distinct parts: students acquire an understanding of
education-ba
the content of environmental studies; examine the
process of education for an environmental perspective;
investigate ways of applying environmental education
content and techniques in the professional roles they
may pursue; and participate in internships, a field
practicum, or research. Students studying Environmental
Education become problem solvers who are able to meet
the environmental challenges of our time.
Students, faculty, and staff in the Department of
Environmental Studies approach environmental
understanding and problem solving through diverse
programs that examine the interaction of social and
natural systems to promote positive change in the
Western environment. Western’s interdisciplinary Environmental https://www.wwu
Washington Studies curriculum is designed to help students make .edu/majors/envir BA Environmental
University intellectual connections and gain the practical skills onmental-studies- Studies
necessary for building socially and environmentally ba
sustainable futures. The Department’s undergraduate
programs include a variety of major specializations. A
range of minors, including Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR),
Geographic Information Science (GIS), and Sustainable
Design, are also available.
The Energy Policy and Management program fosters
interdisciplinary thinking, learning and problem solving
and integrates courses in economics, environmental
Western studies, environmental science, and various other https://www.wwu
Washington disciplines. Students gain knowledge and develop .edu/majors/ener BA Energy Policy &
University analytic skills in the policy and management aspects of gy-policy-and- Management
today's diverse energy business, along with broad management-ba
exposure to the science, environmental, business and
policy aspects of the energy system that drive the
formation and analysis of energy-related policies.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 71
Description
School (quoted from school's program materials) Web Link Degree
The goal of the Energy Science and Technology degree is
to give students knowledge and analytic skills in the
science and technology of today’s diverse energy
Western systems and industries. The degree is designed to https://www.wwu
Washington prepare graduates to become leaders in Washington’s .edu/majors/ener BS Energy Science
University emerging clean energy economy with an interdisciplinary gy-science- & Technology
education that emphasizes applied science and technology
technology, complemented by energy policy and
business practices, that industry experts have prioritized
among Washington’s energy workforce needs.
The MA degree in Environmental Studies prepares
students to address complex environmental problems
Western using a highly interdisciplinary approach. The program
https://gradscho
Washington prepares students in the analysis, development, MA Environmental
ol.wwu.edu/envir
University conservation, and management frameworks of Studies
onmental-studies
environmental resources for careers in business,
government, planning, consulting, teaching, and
research.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 72
Appendix C: Workforce Training Resources
This is an inventory of workforce training resources to foster green economic development in energy, water,
agriculture, and forestry.
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
According to the US Energy
Information Administration,
global energy consumption has
significantly increased and is
expected to continue rising
through 2035 (Energy Outlook,
2012). The energy industry is
working to increase energy
efficiency and looking toward
innovative technologies to meet
the growing demand. Prominent
energy companies like BP and
Phillips 66 are starting new
Bellingham departments focused on https://www.btc.edu/DegreesClas
Certificate of Clean Energy
Technical alternative energy and investing ses/Programs/ProgramDetails.as
Technology
College in technology development and px?ID=145&tab=tab2
production. New energy
technology career categories are
emerging at an unprecedented
pace, and skill sets associated
with energy technology cut
across both traditional and
emerging industries. The number
of green jobs in Washington rose
32% in the last few years, and
these trends are expected to
continue as the demand for
energy increases and resources
decrease.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 73
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Water and Wastewater
Treatment program will train you
for top jobs at water and
wastewater treatment plants,
including positions as water and
wastewater treatment operators.
Bellingham WWT operators work to ensure
https://www.btc.edu/DegreesClas
Technical that the safety, environmental
ses/Programs/ProgramDetails.as AAS Water & Wastewater
College and water quality standards for
px?ID=153
an employer’s treatment system
are met. BTC’s Water and
Wastewater Treatment program
gives you training in technical
skills and interpersonal skills to
get you ready for top jobs in the
field of water treatment.
You can prepare for a rewarding
career as a fish hatchery
specialist, fish culturist, fisheries
technician, net pen worker,
shellfish hatchery worker,
Bellingham scientific aide, water quality
https://www.btc.edu/DegreesClas
Technical technician, or habitat restoration AAS Fisheries &
ses/Programs/ProgramDetails.as
College specialist. In BTC’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Science
px?ID=88&tab=tab3
Aquaculture Science programs,
you’ll learn top skills such as fish
culture, aquaculture, and fish
spawning that will position you
for the best aquatic science jobs
in the fisheries industry.
BBCC provides students
interested in Agricultural
Technology and Management a AAS Agriculture
comprehensive Associate in Technology &
Big Bend Applied Science (AAS) degree https://www.bigbend.edu/academ Management/ Agricultural
Community with three customized pathways ics/programs/agriculture/advising Agronomy Certificate/
College intended to provide graduates / Agricultural Business
with the skills needed to Certificate/ Agricultural
independently operate or support UAS Certificate
local, regional and
national agriculture industries.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 74
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Sustainability is a concept, a
discipline, an ideal. It is the
recognition that the prosperity of
our planet, our people, and our
economy are inextricably linked.
By blending coursework in
natural sciences, social sciences,
management, and technology,
Cascadia College's Bachelor of
Applied Science in Sustainable
Cascadia
Practices provides a pathway to http://www.cascadia.edu/program BAS Applied Science in
College
careers in the green industry. s/degrees/bassp.aspx Sustainable Practices
Graduates will learn the skills
necessary to plan and implement
sustainable approaches to how
we live and work by managing
complex projects for government
agencies, private and non-profit
organizations, water, energy, and
agriculture industries,
construction management firms,
and educational institutions
The Associate in Applied
Science-Transfer degree in
Environmental Technologies and
Sustainable Practices is a
comprehensive technical degree
that provides industry-specific
knowledge and professional
skills that are vital to staking a
claim in the emerging green
Cascadia economy. Governments and AAS Environmental
http://www.cascadia.edu/program
College businesses in this state and Technologies and
s/certificate/default.aspx
around the world are looking for Sustainable Practices
professionals who can “pioneer
innovative pathways” as we
rethink and redesign how we
consume resources; students in
this program will have the
chance to be a part of that as
professional practitioners as well
as in roles as informed
consumers and political citizens.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 75
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Associate in Arts degree
with an emphasis
in Environmental Studies is
intended for students who
Centralia https://www.centralia.edu/acade
plan a career in an environmental
College mics/arts-sciences/enviro- AA Environmental Science
field in areas such as
science.aspx
environmental policy and law,
urban planning, environmental
ethics, and environmental
advocacy.
The Associate in Science degree
with an emphasis in
Environmental Science is
intended for students who plan a
career as a scientist or
Centralia technician in an environmental https://www.centralia.edu/acade
College field such as conservation mics/arts-sciences/enviro- AS Environmental Science
biology, environmental science.aspx
chemistry, environmental
geology, energy resources,
environmental planning, agro-
ecology or atmospheric
sciences.
The Natural Resources
Centralia Management program prepares https://www.centralia.edu/acade
AA Natural Resources
College students for transfer into a mics/arts-sciences/natural-
Management
program in forestry, fisheries, or resources.aspx
wildlife management.
This program is for students who
wish to complete a bachelor’s
degree in such disciplines as
general or molecular biology,
zoology, microbiology, genetics,
Centralia
entomology, botany, horticulture, https://www.centralia.edu/acade
College AA in Biology
soil science, phycology, ecology, mics/arts-sciences/biology.aspx
marine biology, fisheries biology,
or wildlife management. This
program assumes a student is
prepared to start college-level
math and English courses.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 76
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
This program is for students who
wish to complete a bachelor’s
degree in such disciplines as
Centralia general or molecular biology,
https://www.centralia.edu/acade
College zoology, microbiology, genetics, AA in Science
mics/arts-sciences/biology.aspx
entomology, botany, horticulture,
soil science, phycology, ecology,
marine science, fisheries or
wildlife management.
Environmental Science is the
study of physical and biological
properties that make up the
environment and their
relationship to living organisms
on the planet. This interest area
is an interdisciplinary field that
combines foundational
knowledge in a variety of earth
http://www.clark.edu/academics/
Clark sciences. As society explores
programs/dept/environmental_sci AS Environmental Science
College new ways to live sustainably on
ence/index.php
the planet, research and creative
solutions will build upon
knowledge of natural systems.
Environmental scientists apply
mathematic and scientific
principles to solve environmental
issues and develop ways to
reduce, correct, or prevent
damage to the environment.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 77
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
With the constant population
growth and development of new
technologies, environmental
impact is a vital focus. Students
in CPTC's Environmental
Sciences & Technology program
train for a wide range of career
opportunities in the field of
environmental science. Some of
the training opportunities include
hands-on water-quality
monitoring; soil, water, and air
Clover Park sampling; mineral identification;
http://www.cptc.edu/programs/en Certificate of Environmental
Technical wetland delineation and
vironmental Sciences & Technology
College restoration; geographic
information system mapping;
and simulated hazardous waste
site cleanup operations. This
program takes advantage of
CPTC's 110-acre outdoor
learning laboratory at Flett Creek,
across the street from our
Lakewood Campus. If you love
the outdoors and have a passion
for nature, this program and
career path might be your
perfect fit.
Agri-Food Systems give you a
broad, interdisciplinary
understanding of agriculture
systems and allow you to
develop specialized knowledge
of business management in
Columbia agriculture and related areas.
http://www.columbiabasin.edu/in
Basin The program prepares not only BAS Applied Science
dex.aspx?page=407
College aspiring growers of crops, but
also students who are interested
in related industries, such as
global marketing, direct
marketing, or food production to
contribute to the changing field
of agriculture.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 78
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Agri-Food Systems give you a
broad, interdisciplinary
understanding of agriculture
systems and allow you to
develop specialized knowledge
of business management in
Columbia
agriculture and related areas.
Basin http://www.columbiabasin.edu/in
The program prepares not only AA Sciences in Agriculture
College dex.aspx?page=407
aspiring growers of crops, but
also students who are interested
in related industries, such as
global marketing, direct
marketing, or food production to
contribute to the changing field
of agriculture.
Agri-Food Systems give you a
broad, interdisciplinary
understanding of agriculture
systems and allow you to
develop specialized knowledge
of business management in
Columbia
agriculture and related areas.
Basin http://www.columbiabasin.edu/in AA Sciences in Crop & Soil
The program prepares not only
College dex.aspx?page=407 Science
aspiring growers of crops, but
also students who are interested
in related industries, such as
global marketing, direct
marketing, or food production to
contribute to the changing field
of agriculture.
Agri-Food Systems give you a
broad, interdisciplinary
understanding of agriculture
systems and allow you to
develop specialized knowledge
of business management in
Columbia
agriculture and related areas.
Basin http://www.columbiabasin.edu/in
The program prepares not only AA Applied Science
College dex.aspx?page=407
aspiring growers of crops, but
also students who are interested
in related industries, such as
global marketing, direct
marketing, or food production to
contribute to the changing field
of agriculture.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 79
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Environmental Science offers
both science and non-science
students the necessary
background to understand the
environmental problems that
have arisen due to human
activities. Courses deal with the
interrelationships of soil, air, and
water as they are affected by
human activities. Students are
Columbia
challenged to think critically
Basin http://www.columbiabasin.edu/in
about their lifestyle choices and AS Environmental Science
College dex.aspx?page=419
how these choices affect their
immediate environment in the
short term and the biosphere in
the long run. Education of
students is the key that opens
their minds to the possibility that
humans do, in fact, cause
changes to their environment by
using resources at rates that
exceed the system's ability to
replenish them.
Environmental Science combines
information from biology,
Edmonds chemistry, physics, and geology,
https://www.edcc.edu/programs/
Community stressing a scientific approach AS Environmental Science
stem/envsc/default.html
College towards understanding the
nature and scope of current
environmental issues.
The Associate in Science (AS-T)
degree is designed to prepare
science majors for transfer to a
four-year institution with junior
standing. The AS-T degree will
Edmonds generally provide the transferring http://catalog.edcc.edu/preview_p
AS Environmental Science,
Community student with at least 90 quarter rogram.php?catoid=52&poid=1042
Geology, Earth Sciences
College (60 semester) credits upon entry 3
to a four-year institution. This
degree will satisfy some, but not
all, of the general education
requirements at the receiving
institution.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 80
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
This certificate provides a
theoretical foundation in urban
agriculture through the study of
environmental sustainability
principles, ecology in agricultural
systems, and plant and soil
sciences. There is also a
practical focus on the study and
hands-on cultivation of organic
food crops for year-round
Edmonds production and harvest in the http://catalog.edcc.edu/preview_p Certificate of Urban
Community maritime climate of the Puget rogram.php?catoid=53&poid=1068 Agriculture Production
College Sound bioregion. Students 3 Certificate
explore career options and apply
knowledge, skills, and
techniques through internship,
practicum, or research
experience. This certificate may
be combined with the Urban
Agriculture Enterprises
Certificate to achieve the larger
Urban Agriculture Systems
Certificate.
Geologists study the
composition, processes and
history of the Earth. They try to
find out how rocks were formed
and what has happened to them
since formation. They also study
the evolution of life by analyzing
Everett plant and animal fossils. https://www.everettcc.edu/progra
Community Geophysicists use the principles ms/math- AS/ AAS Geoscience
College of physics, mathematics and science/physical/geoscience/
chemistry to study not only the
Earth's surface, but also its
internal composition; ground and
surface waters; atmosphere;
oceans; and its magnetic,
electrical and gravitational
forces.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 81
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Demonstrate field identification
of regionally important plant
species and their communities;
Interpret how ecological
relationships influence plant
succession and biodiversity in
forested ecosystems; Recognize
silvicultural treatments used in
the growing and culturing of
trees; Explain how forest
management practices are
Grays applied to forestland ownership
https://www.ghc.edu/academics/ AAS/ Certificate Natural
Harbor within the context of multiple
degrees-and-certificates/natural- Resources- Forestry
College resource uses; Identify and solve
resources-forestry-technician-aas Technical
problems in natural resources
through the application of
mensuration and/or remote
sensing techniques while
utilizing appropriate equipment;
Differentiate harvest systems in
relation to site and stand
characteristics; Recognize and
resolve potentially hazardous
situations in the forested
environment and related
operations.
The Associate in Science - Track
1 degree prepares you for upper
Grays https://www.ghc.edu/academics/
division study in the areas of:
Harbor degrees-and-
Biological Sciences, AS
College certificates/associate-science-
Environmental Sciences /
direct-transfer
Resource Sciences, Geology,
Earth Science
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 82
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Bachelor of Applied Science
in Forest Resources
Management (BAS-FRM) degree
prepares students to engage
professionally as Foresters in
public and private companies,
Grays Conservation Scientists,
https://www.ghc.edu/academics/
Harbor Wildland Fire Supervisors, BAS Forest Resource
degrees-and-
College Surveyors and other Management
certificates/bachelors/forestry
environmental activities. If you
love nature and the outdoors
Washington State is one of the
main forester centers in our
country and there are many roles
you can take to make a better
world right here in Grays Harbor.
Washington Environmental
Training Center - Located at
Green River College WETRC is a
non-profit, self-supported
training organization founded in
1974 under the direction of the
Environmental Protection Wastewater Technology
https://www.greenriver.edu/stude
Green River Agency. WETRC provides AAS, Water Supply Tech
nts/academics/degrees-
College specialized training and AAS, Municipal Wastewater
programs/water-wastewater-
continuing education for water or Treatment Tech Cert, Water
technology/
wastewater personnel as well as Distribution Tech Cert
backflow assembly testers. Our
program allows students and
professionals to maintain and
upgrade their certification,
meeting state training
requirements.
Earth science includes the
sciences used to study the
lithosphere - the solid portion of
Earth, the atmosphere - the
Green River gaseous envelope surrounding https://www.greenriver.edu/stude
College Earth, the hydrosphere - the ice, nts/academics/degrees- AS Earth Science
water and water vapor at or near programs/earth-science/
Earth’s surface, the biosphere -
the zone at or near Earth’s
surface that supports life, and
space beyond the atmosphere.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 83
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Bachelors of Applied
Science in Forest Resource
Management degree prepares
students to directly enter
employment in several Natural https://www.greenriver.edu/stude
Green River Resources areas. By developing nts/academics/degrees-
BAS Forest Resource
College academic skills in mathematics, programs/bachelor-of-applied-
Management
science, English, humanities, and science/bachelor%E2%80%99s-in-
natural resource courses, the forest-resource-management/
student can apply directly for
jobs in natural resources
management, forest engineering,
water quality or wildlife biology.
The study of Environmental
Science is concerned with
natural and modified
environments and their
interactions with biological
systems, including human.
Green River Students gain an understanding https://www.greenriver.edu/stude
College of the environmental and nts/academics/degrees- AS Environmental Science
ecological context, including programs/environmental-science/
positive and negative impacts,
and methods to analyze,
interrelate, and resolve these
complex systems. This program
is designed to meet a wide
variety of academic goals.
This certificate program
prepares graduates for entry-
level positions operating and
maintaining public drinking water
Green River distribution systems. The https://catalog.greenriver.edu/pre
Certificate of Water
College program is designed for a fall view_program.php?catoid=3&poid
Distribution Technology
quarter start, depending upon =565
student composition,
computation and computing
skills; please contact an advisor
for skill assessment information.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 84
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
This degree program prepares
graduates for positions in
municipal drinking water
distribution and treatment
facilities. Along with appropriate
operating experience, this degree
Green River https://catalog.greenriver.edu/pre
provides a foundation for AAS Water Supply
College view_program.php?catoid=3&poid
positions with responsibilities Technology
=564
beyond the entry level. The
requirements build on those for
the Water Distribution
Technology Certificate of
Proficiency, which should
generally be completed first.
This degree program prepares
graduates to work in a variety of
outdoor careers. Graduates
monitor stream, lake, and
wetland systems for water
quality and functions of physical,
Green River biological, and chemical https://catalog.greenriver.edu/pre
AAS Natural Resources-
College parameters. They identify plants view_program.php?catoid=3&poid
Water Quality
and animals using taxonomic =552
keys. They assist wetlands
delineation and GPS/map their
location. Graduates also apply
and follow environmental
regulations regarding stream and
wetland protection.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 85
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
This degree program prepares
graduates to work in a variety of
outdoor careers. The growing
awareness of water quality,
wetland protection, reforestation,
and environmentally sensitive
timber harvest requires the
services of technicians with a
broad knowledge base. People
who are trained to measure and
sample the forest, its wildlife,
Green River https://catalog.greenriver.edu/pre
streams and wetlands will AAS Natural Resources-
College view_program.php?catoid=3&poid
enhance their employment Forestry
=549
opportunities. Wildlife biologists
and professional foresters need
technicians to efficiently produce
accurate data. Park managers
need knowledgeable personnel
to perform maintenance duties
and interpret wildland ecology
for the public. Wildland
firefighters are needed with
current certificates of knowledge
and skills.
Students learn plant
identification, plant propagation,
sustainable landscape practices,
soil science, practical pruning
and botanical concepts. Through
time spent in practical hands-on
training, students will learn to
propagate, seed, transplant,
design landscape plans, and
maintain a variety of plants.
Lake
Students will participate in an http://catalog.lwtech.edu/preview
Washington Certificate of Proficiency
industry based training _program.php?catoid=9&poid=219
Institute of Environmental Horticulture
experience. Graduates find jobs 0&returnto=439
Technology
with nurseries, greenhouses,
landscape firms, garden centers,
and park departments. The
classroom setting includes
individual and small group
instruction with a hands-on
focus of horticultural practices.
The program emphasizes a
sustainable approach to
horticultural principles.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 86
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Students who complete the
Sustainable Landscape
Technologies certificate will be
able to manage outdoor spaces
in an ecological and sustainable
manner. Focuses on emerging
technologies and best
management practices in
modern residential & commercial
landscapes including topics like:
reduction of landscape water
usage through modern irrigation
technologies, BMP's related to
Lake
irrigation systems maintenance
Washington http://catalog.lwtech.edu/preview
and installation, BMP's regarding Certificate of Sustainable
Institute of _program.php?catoid=9&poid=225
"right plant, right place: planting Landscape Technologies
Technology 9&returnto=439
concepts and soil management,
installation and use of
ecologically responsible
hardscape materials such as
permeable materials, green
roofs, living walls, and
sustainably sourced woods or
introduction to plant health care
principles including a broad
understanding of common
cultural, insect and disease
problems in the landscape and
how to assess and address
them.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 87
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Environmental Horticulture
AAS degree provides students
with knowledge and skills
needed for jobs with nurseries,
greenhouses, landscape firms,
garden centers, and park
departments. Students learn
plant identification, plant
Lake
propagation, sustainable
Washington http://catalog.lwtech.edu/preview
landscape practices, soil AAS Environmental
Institute of _program.php?catoid=9&poid=218
science, practical pruning and Horticulture
Technology 9&returnto=439
botanical concepts. Through
time spent in practical hands-on
training, students will learn to
propagate, seed, transplant,
design landscape plans, and
maintain a variety of plants.
Students will participate in an
industry based training
experience.
Knowledge about the planet we
inhabit, the surrounding universe
and the natural forces that
impact our world adds value to
our daily lives and provides the
basis for interesting careers in a
Lower
broad range of disciplines:
Columbia https://lowercolumbia.edu/progra
astronomy, earth sciences, AS/AA Earth Sciences
College ms/natural-science.php
geography, geology, meteorology
and oceanography. Begin studies
for an advanced degree leading
to positions with government
agencies or private industry as
an independent consultant,
teacher, or researcher.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 88
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Today's environmental problems
call for people who are educated
in more than one discipline,
highly trained in scientific and
technical skills, and aware of the
ecological, political, economic,
and social dimensions of
environmental decisions. The
Associate in Science-Transfer
(AS-T) degree in Environmental
Lower
Science provides a foundation in
Columbia https://lowercolumbia.edu/progra
basic physical, biological, and AS Environmental Science
College ms/natural-science.php
social sciences, and also
addresses the human element in
environmental issues. This
curriculum prepares students to
transfer and complete a BS or BA
in an Environmental Science field
for subsequent graduate study in
MS, PhD, and law degree
programs and careers in
government agencies or the
private sector.
Intended for students planning to
transfer to a four-year college or
university and major in biology,
environmental/resource
sciences, chemistry, geology or
earth sciences. This degree is
North designed to allow students to
Seattle complete approximately 70 https://northseattle.edu/degrees/
AS Option 1
College math/science credits required or associate-science-degree-option-1
recommended for admission
into these majors. The remaining
20 credits of the 90-credit degree
include 5 credits of ENGL&101
(composition) and 15 general
education credits (humanities
and social sciences).
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 89
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Sustainable and
Conventional Energy and Control
Technology (formerly, Industrial
Power & Control) Certificate
prepares students for immediate
North https://northseattle.edu/certificat
employment and future Sustainable & Conventional
Seattle es/sustainable-and-conventional-
advancement, in companies or Energy & Control
College energy-and-control-technology-
government organizations that Technology Certificate
certificate
manufacture, service, sell, design
or support electrical and
electronic systems that control
machinery, automation, and/or
processes.
Biotechnology is a fascinating
field which is at the cutting edge
of science using living cells and
materials produced by cells to
create pharmaceutical,
diagnostic, agricultural,
environmental, and other
products to benefit society.
People working in this field make
groundbreaking discoveries that
fight disease, improve food
production, clean up the
environment and make
https://www.olympic.edu/biotech
Olympic manufacturing more efficient
nology-associate-arts-aa-or- AA/AS Biotechnology
College and profitable. Because of the
associate-science-track-2
various levels of occupations
associated with biotechnology,
students have several options.
Associate degrees are available
at a number of community
colleges in Washington State
that focus on the technical side
of biotechnology. Bachelor’s and
graduate degrees are also
available that prepare students
for careers in biotechnology
associated with research and
development and quality control.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 90
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Environmental Studies is an
interdisciplinary field which
studies the earth’s natural
systems in the context of human
social and economic constructs.
It is a broad discipline that
includes basic principles of
ecology and environmental
science, as well as associated
subjects such as ethics, policy
and planning, law, economics,
philosophy, environmental
Olympic
justice, pollution control and https://www.olympic.edu/environ
College AA Environmental Studies
natural resource management. mental-studies-associate-arts-aa
Choose from:
1.Environmental Science, which
focuses on the use of the
scientific method to investigate
chemical, biological, and
quantitative aspects of natural
systems; or
2.Environmental Policy, which
focuses on environmental policy
development and the economic
aspects of natural resource
issues.
Geologists study the structure,
composition, and history of the
Earth. Their concerns include
Olympic locating water, fuels, and https://www.olympic.edu/geology-
College minerals resources; determining associate-arts-aa-or-associate- AA/AS Geology
appropriate land usage; and science-track-1
diagnosing natural hazards such
as floods, volcanoes, and
earthquakes.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 91
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
This degree is intended for
students with an interest in
transferring to a baccalaureate
institution within the State of
Washington in one of the
targeted disciplines. Typically,
Olympic AS Biological Sciences,
the Associate in Arts degree is https://www.olympic.edu/associat
College Environmental/ Resource
best suited for transfer to certain e-science-track-1-ast-1
Sciences/ Earth Sciences
baccalaureate institutions.
Students should meet early in
their matriculation at Olympic
College with an academic faculty
advisor to determine the degree
suitable for them.
Designed for students interested
in continuing their education in
Biological Sciences,
Environmental/Resource
Peninsula
Sciences, Chemistry, Geology, http://pencol.edu/degrees AS Environmental Science
College
and Earth Sciences. Designed to
fulfill the requirements of four-
year degree-granting institutions
for transfer with junior standing.
The Sustainable Agriculture and
Food Systems Short Term
Certificate of Completion is
designed for both aspiring
farmers and community leaders
interested in learning how to
work in a regional food system in
the areas of advocacy, Short-Term Certificate of
Peninsula http://pencol.edu/proftech/sustai
education, production, and Sustainable Agriculture and
College nable-agriculture
nonprofit service. Students who Food Systems
complete the certificate program
will gain foundational knowledge
and skills to work on a farm or
operate their own farm business.
The program will also benefit
those seeking careers in local
and community food systems.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 92
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Biology Transfer I (Pre-
professional): This track is
recommended if you are
interested in pursuing careers or
further education in the medical,
dental, chiropractic, veterinary,
microbiology, botany,
environmental science, fisheries,
Pierce zoology, cell biology or related
College at fields. If you are wishing to
https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/biolog
Fort prepare for allied health careers, AS/ AA Biology
y
Steilacoom such as nursing, physical
therapy, or occupational therapy,
see those other pathways in the
Healthcare category.
•Biology Transfer II (Natural
Resources): This is the
recommended track if you are
interested in the forestry, wildlife,
marine biology, environmental
studies, and related fields.
Explore a wide range of
Pierce environmental subjects,
College at including water quality, weather
https://www.pierce.ctc.edu/enviro AS/ AA Environmental
Fort and environmental biology, as
nmental-science Science
Steilacoom you earn an associate’s degree
in environmental science for
transfer to a four-year college.
Geology includes the study of
minerals, rocks, the dynamic
processes that shape the Earth’s
surface over time, the history of
Pierce
life, dinosaurs, and mass
College at http://catalog.pierce.ctc.edu/previ
extinction events. These include
Fort ew_program.php?catoid=7&poid=1 AS Geology
such topics as Earth’s tectonics,
Steilacoom 948&returnto=317
volcanism, earthquakes,
landslides, streams, and
coastlines. Topics such as
resources or climate change may
be included.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 93
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Sustainable Agriculture
Education (SAgE) Emphasis,
Associate of Arts (A.A.) or
Associate of Science (A.S.)
degree integrates the study of
food production methods and
food systems models for https://seattlecentral.edu/progra
Seattle
sustainable bioregions. Study ms/college- AA/ AS Sustainable
Central
and apply an ecological transfer/degrees/sustainable- Agriculture Education
College
approach to small–scale agriculture
agriculture from a bioregional
perspective while analyzing and
evaluating the cultural, political,
and economic dynamics that
influence the sustainability of
food systems.
With an Environmental Science
background, you can focus on
environmental policy, collecting
data or monitoring compliance
on environmental issues. Some
students who major in https://seattlecentral.edu/progra
Seattle environmental science work ms/college-transfer/college-
Central outdoors monitoring water transfer- AS Environmental Sciences
College quality, tracking endangered programs/stem/environmental-
species, introducing children to science
the natural environment, or
advocating for new policies and
better enforcement of policies
that protect the environment and
human health.
Designed to meet the first two
years of requirements for most
science bachelor’s degrees,
including core science
sequences in math, chemistry,
https://www.shoreline.edu/progra
Shoreline biology, and/or physics, the
ms/natural-sciences- AS Environmental Health
Community Associate of Science – Transfer,
transfer/environmental-health-pre- Pre-Major
College Track 1 (AS-T1) in Shoreline’s
major.aspx
Natural Sciences Transfer
program offers small class sizes
in a supportive environment to
prepare you for successful
transfer to university.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 94
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Designed to meet the first two
years of requirements for most
science bachelor’s degrees,
including core science
sequences in math, chemistry,
Shoreline https://www.shoreline.edu/progra
biology, and/or physics, the
Community ms/natural-sciences- AS Environmental Sciences
Associate of Science – Transfer,
College transfer/environmental-sciences- Pre-Major
Track 1 (AS-T1) in Shoreline’s
pre-major.aspx
Natural Sciences Transfer
program offers small class sizes
in a supportive environment to
prepare you for successful
transfer to university.
Environmental Studies integrates
knowledge across the natural
sciences, social sciences and
the humanities to explore the
Shoreline https://www.shoreline.edu/progra
effects of human activities on
Community ms/general-
the natural world. Students learn AA Environmental Studies
College transfer/environmental-studies-
to identify environmental
pre-major.aspx
problems, analyze causes and
develop solutions to promote
preservation, sustainability and
stewardship of the environment.
Master clean energy
fundamentals while gaining
knowledge of sustainable
business practices and https://www.shoreline.edu/progra
Shoreline
entrepreneurship. Learn through ms/clean-energy- AAAS/ Certificate Clean
Community
practical design projects and technology/clean-energy- Energy Technology and
College
hands-on training activities. technology-and-entrepreneurship- Entrepreneurship
Study solar electric systems, aaas.aspx
building science, energy
efficiency best practices and
more.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 95
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Sustainable business is a
commitment to ecologically
sustainable business practices,
such as renewing energy,
recycling products, building
green, investing green and using
our resources efficiently. This https://www.shoreline.edu/progra
Shoreline
short-term certificate in ms/business-
Community Certificate of Sustainable
Sustainable Business Leadership administration/sustainable-
College Business Leadership
focuses on sustainable business business-leadership-
practices to include marketing certificate.aspx
and business strategies that
promote green business.
Courses compliment other
advanced degrees or working
professionals interested in
sustainable business leadership.
Have you always wanted to work
in the natural environment?
Interested in studying and
managing our wildlands, lakes,
https://www.skagit.edu/academic
rivers and coastal waters,
s/areas-of-study/science-
managing for parks and BAS/AAS/ Certificate
Skagit Valley technology-engineering-math-
recreation lands, or focusing on Environmental
College stem/environmental-
the impacts caused by Conservation
conservation/bas-environmental-
urbanization, forestry practices
conservation/
or agriculture? Enroll in SVC’s
Bachelor of Applied Science in
Environmental Conservation
program today!
Our Sustainable Agriculture
program is designed to provide
you with knowledge and skills in
agro-ecological sciences, natural
resource management, and https://www.skagit.edu/academic
AAS Environmental
Skagit Valley environmental conservation. s/areas-of-study/food-beverage-
Sustainable Agriculture
College With an emphasis on ‘small farm’ management/sustainable-
Education
agriculture, you will learn how to agriculture-education/
sustainably manage production
and operations as the foundation
of a resilient and local food
system.
AS-T Track 1 focuses on
South Puget
chemistry, biology,
Sound https://spscc.edu/areas/science/
environmental and natural AS Track 1
Community associate-science-transfer-track-1
resource sciences and geology
College
and earth sciences.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 96
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Biology is an increasingly
complex and exciting field, one
that overlays other critical
subdisciplines from anatomy,
pathology and ecology to
chemistry, genetics and botany.
Each of these intersects with the
study of life and living
South organisms. And of course,
https://southseattle.edu/program
Seattle medical and scientific innovation AS Biology Track 1
s/biology
College continue to drive biology into
new and thrilling directions. This
means that your biology
education will touch on issues
impacting human, animal and
plant life far and wide, including
subjects like genetic engineering,
transhumanism, GMO farming,
and global climate change.
Environmental Science scholars
ask questions such as: How can
colony collapse disorder be
prevented? Should genetically
modified food be labeled as
such? How does intensive
farming impact plant
biodiversity? Environmental
Science uses a multidisciplinary
approach to understand the
South
changes in our natural and https://southseattle.edu/program AS Environmental Science
Seattle
human environment. During the s/environmental-science Track 1
College
course of your studies, you’ll
draw on fundamental scientific
knowledge in mathematics,
chemistry, physics, and biology
coupled with specialization in a
particular area of science to
provide advanced scientific and
quantitative understanding of
contemporary environmental
challenges.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 97
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Whereas the environmental
science pathway is designed for
students who want to focus on
scientific careers in fields such
South
as pollution abatement, water https://southseattle.edu/program AS Environmental Studies
Seattle
resources, ecosystem protection, s/environmental-studies Track 1
College
environmental restoration, and
environmental management, the
environmental studies pathway
is broader in focus.
If you are interested in
agribusiness and farming, the
agriculture business program
could be for you. Whether you
are looking to expand your
Spokane career in agriculture to the next https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-
AAS/ Certificate Agriculture
Community level or want training to gain Study/The-Natural-
Business/ Technology
College entry-level employment in our World/Agriculture
region's large agribusiness and
farming industries, the program's
comprehensive training is
designed to prepare you for
success.
If you are interested in the world
around you and understanding
and solving environmental
problems, a career in
Spokane https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-
environmental or resource
Community Study/The-Natural- AS Environmental/
sciences may be right for you.
College World/Environmental-Resource- Resource Sciences Track 1
Courses in this discipline will
Sciences
examine varying environmental
concepts including the
atmosphere, ecology, geology,
and environmental chemistry.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 98
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
If you enjoy working outside and
are passionate about planting,
pruning and protecting trees in
urban areas, then the
arboriculture/urban forestry
program is right for you. In this
Spokane program, you will learn theory https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-
Community and skills in the science of Study/The-Natural- AAS Arboriculture/ Urban
College arboriculture. You’ll gain hands- World/Arboriculture-Urban- Forestry
on experience identifying, Forestry
designing, planting, pruning and
maintaining trees. You’ll also
learn how to diagnose pests and
problems as well as how to
protect the trees and treat for
problems.
In this program, you’ll learn to
grow and care for landscape
plants and vegetables as a
horticulture professional.
Spokane Through both classes and
https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-
Community hands-on practice in the AAS/ Certificate
Study/The-Natural-
College greenhouse, you’ll study plant Greenhouse Nursery
World/Greenhouse-Nursery
propagation, greenhouse
construction, climate control,
postharvest crop care, and
greenhouse business
management.
In this program, you’ll prepare for
a career in one of three areas:
forestry, fish and wildlife
management, or parks and
recreation. Much of your learning
Spokane
will take place out in nature, https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-
Community AAS Natural Resources
where you’ll learn skills in timber Study/The-Natural-World/Natural-
College Management
cruising, forest management, Resource-Management
forest insect and disease
identification, data sampling
techniques, electro fishing, bird
identification, GPS\GIS tools and
much more.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 99
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
The Associate in Science
Transfer (AS-T) Degree #1 is
designed to prepare students for
upper division study in the areas
of biological sciences,
Spokane environmental/resource
https://scc.spokane.edu/What-to-
Community sciences, chemistry, geology, AS Environmental/
Study/Transfer-Options
College and earth science. Completing Resource Science
the AS-T degree will prepare
students for upper division study;
it does not guarantee students
admission to the major. Track 1
degrees offered at SCC and/or
SFCC include:
Environmental science is the
study of the interaction of
humans and the physical and
https://www.tacomacc.edu/acade
Tacoma biological systems of the earth,
mics-
Community and the dependence on natural AS Environmental Science
programs/programs/environment
College resources by humans. It involves
alscience
the study of the interaction and
co-evolution of human, physical,
and biological systems.
Forestry work involves the
management and protection of
forests and other natural areas,
Tacoma
such as wildlife habitats, https://www.tacomacc.edu/acade
Community AA Forestry
wetlands and parks. Foresters mics-programs/programs/forestry
College
direct recreational activities and
conservation efforts in both
public and private forests.
The study of Aquatic and
Fisheries Sciences is dedicated
to sustaining healthy marine and
freshwater environments. It has
a wide focus from the organism
Tacoma https://www.tacomacc.edu/acade
to the ecosystem scale. We AS Aquatic & Fisheries
Community mics-programs/programs/aquatic-
examine human-induced effects Sciences
College fisheries-science
on ecosystems, such as habitat
change and restoration, climate
change and effects of invasive
species on marine and
freshwater ecosystems.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 100
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Agricultural systems science is
an interdisciplinary science,
which systematically analyzes
the interactions between the
natural, human, climatic, political
and economic components of
the agroecosystem. The
Agricultural Systems degree at
WWCC provides successful
students with a broad and
complete understanding of these
complex interactions. Students
Walla Walla
will learn to adjust current
Community https://www.wwcc.edu/bas-sas/ BAS Agricultural Systems
pathways as well as identify new
College
pathways to minimize the many
potential negative effects on
environmental, societal and
human health. In addition to
classes in foundational
agricultural knowledge, like that
of basic soil, plant and animal
science, students will be
engaged in topics such as
agroecology, policy, technology
and sustainability to develop
their critical thinking skills.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 101
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
Agriculture Science combines
the fields of biology and
chemistry with a practical
understanding of crop
management. The primary
objectives of the program are to
offer students technical
knowledge in the areas of soils
and fertilizers, pests and control
procedures, and crop
management. These objectives
Walla Walla AAS/ Certificate
are accomplished with
Community https://dept.wwcc.edu/agscience/ Agriculture- Plant & Soil
lecture/discussion periods, lab
College Science
exercises, and field trips to
production enterprise areas.
Many courses are available for
distance learning for students.
The Agriculture Science
curriculum is reviewed by an
advisory committee composed
of local and regional industry
members and adheres to
national and state skill
standards.
Focuses in: Watershed
Management, Water Resources
Management & Irrigation
Walla Walla http://portal3.wwcc.edu/OCATem AAS/ Certificate Water
Management, Wildlife Ecology &
Community plates/DegreeSequence.html?epc Technologies &
Conservation Science,
College =165U Management
Environmental & Ecosystem
Science, Forestry & Earth
Science
There is increased demand for
technicians and operators with
robust electrical, mechanical,
and bio-chemical skills and
knowledge. Graduates of the
Energy Systems Technology
Walla Walla degree program are in high
https://dept.wwcc.edu/energy/de AAS Energy Systems
Community demand by public works, power
partment-overview/ Technology
College generation, food & beverage
processing, pulp & paper milling,
manufacturing, agriculture,
irrigation, and renewable energy
operations! Focuses in: Precision
Agriculture, Renewable Energy,
Facilities Energy Management
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 102
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
An education grounded in the
study of the natural world
provides the intellectual skills to
make life decisions and is an
important reason why natural
and physical sciences are part of
a liberal arts education.
Wenatchee Understanding the natural world
https://www.wvc.edu/academics/ AAS/ AST Natural &
Valley is part of being an educated
sciences/index.html Physical Sciences
College person. The natural and physical
sciences teach discipline and
organization of knowledge and
require each student to learn
important critical thinking skills
that can be applied in other
disciplines and in other aspects
of their lives.
Graduates of this pathway will be
able to choose between
advanced studies in a four-year
natural resources program and a
broad range of technical natural
resources careers, including
seasonal and full-time positions
in which they collect natural
Wenatchee
resources field information. In https://www.wvc.edu/academics/
Valley AAS-T Natural Resources
professional and personal natural-resources/index.html
College
functions, graduates will be able
to draw on a basic
understanding of aquatic and
terrestrial ecosystems, safe and
accurate measurement
techniques, and the social
context of natural resources
management.
The ATS degree prepares
students for employment in
agriculture and related fields.
Wenatchee
The pathways are General https://www.wvc.edu/academics/
Valley ATS Agriculture
Agriculture, Horticulture/Tree agriculture/index.html
College
Fruit Production, Sustainable and
Organic Agriculture, and
Agriculture Technology.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 103
Description
(quoted from school's
School program materials) Web Link Degree
An efficient pathway for students
to complete the majority of
Whatcom prerequisites for certain science https://www.whatcom.edu/acade
Community and engineering majors such as mics/degrees- AS
College atmospheric science, biology, certificates/associate-degrees
earth sciences, environmental
science and geology.
Biology – this program focuses
Yakima
on cellular biology, microbiology, https://www.yvcc.edu/academics/
Valley AA Biology
anatomy, physiology, botany, life-sciences/
College
ecology, and evolution.
The mission of the Agriculture
Program is to serve as a partner
with the diverse agriculture
Yakima
industry to provide students with https://www.yvcc.edu/academics/
Valley AAS Agribusiness
the attitudes, abilities, and agriculture/
College
problem-solving capabilities to
meet career responsibilities and
lead agriculture into the future.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 104
Washington State Centers of Excellence
Housed within many of Washington state's community and technical colleges, Washington state's Centers
of Excellence provide education targeted at specific economic sectors throughout the state. With a focus
on workforce training from an industry and economic development perspective, each center works closely
with the state’s community and technical colleges, industry businesses, and stakeholders from areas such
as government, education, labor, and many others. Centers with programs that are directly supportive of
sectors of the green economy represented in this report are listed in the table below.
Center of Description
Excellence (quoted from center's program materials) Colleges
The Center of Excellence for Aerospace and Advanced
Manufacturing provides leadership and resources to support
Center of economic growth, focusing on aerospace and advanced
Excellence manufacturing. Working strategically with our industry partners and
Aerospace and educational institutions, we assist in developing the talent pipeline Olympic College, Everett
Advanced for the next generation of future workers within the aerospace Community College,
Manufacturing industry sector Peninsula College
The Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR),
housed at Walla Walla Community College, enhances the agricultural Big Bend Community
and natural resource industry in Washington State by supporting College, Columbia Basin
programs offered at community and technical colleges—serving 23 College, Spokane
of the state’s 34 colleges. ANR services ensure the efficient use of Community College,
resources for workforce development activities and initiatives by Walla Walla Community
Agriculture and nurturing a culture of cooperation within the college system, and is a College, Wenatchee
Natural Resource resource to promote agriculture and natural resource education, Valley College, Yakima
Center of expand and strengthen degree/certificate programs, and facilitate Valley Community
Excellence professional development for college faculty College
The Construction Center of Excellence (CCE) provides statewide
leadership in creating a skilled and diverse workforce to meet the
needs of the construction industry. With emphasis on equity and
Construction access, the CCE partners with stakeholders across the state to
Center of support pathways from K-12 to apprenticeship, community and Renton Technical
Excellence technical colleges and on to 4 year degree options. College
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 105
Center of Description
Excellence (quoted from center's program materials) Colleges
40% of all jobs in Washington State are connected to trade, making
Center of this region the most trade-engaged. Washington-based companies
Excellence for like Boeing, Microsoft, Starbucks, Amazon, Chateau St. Michelle, and
Global Trade and Eddie Bauer consider supply chain management a key factor in their
Supply Chain success. Supply chain management enables them to build and
Management deliver products more competitively…better, faster, and cheaper. Highline College
The Center supports the growth and development of the marine
industries workforce. We do this by engaging in multiple strategies:
professional development for industry and faculty; updating skills
standards; outreach to underserved and underrepresented
communities; conducting research to capture real time data
addressing wage and benefit rates, occupational profiles, skill sets,
knowledge and education/training/certification/credentialing
NW Center of requirements. The Center stays on top of industry developments
Excellence for such as emerging technologies, materials, best practices, market
Marine changes, and trends to develop strategies to meet workforce needs.
Manufacturing & The Center actively works with industry, association, labor,
Technology educational and system partners to do this work. Skagit Valley College
The Center is a statewide resource that represents the interests of
the energy industry, and our labor partners, within the Washington
State Community and Technical Colleges system. We exist to narrow
the gap between employers’ demands for a highly skilled workforce
Pacific Northwest and the colleges’ ability to supply work-ready graduates. We convene
Center of industry and labor to help drive workforce development initiatives —
Excellence for and coordinate community college resources after industry and
Clean Energy labor set the direction. Centralia College
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 106
Appendix D: Higher Education Research and Development
This is an inventory of higher education research resources within Washington's two public doctoral research
universities to foster green economic development in energy, water, agriculture and forestry. Table 1 contains
research programs within the University of Washington, and Table 2 contains research programs within
Washington State University. Research conducted in these sectors at Washington state's public university
graduate and undergraduate university programs is reflected in Appendices A and B on higher education
development and workforce training.
Table 1: University of Washington
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Improve manufacturing and
assembly of aircraft and
Boeing Advanced spacecraft structures through
https://depts.washi Boeing
Research Center (BARC) collaborative basic and applied
ngton.edu/barc/
research and education-related
activities.
The mission of the Center for
Advanced Materials in Transport
Washington State
Aircraft Structures (AMTAS) is to
University;
lead the aviation community by
Center for Advanced Oregon State University;
researching new ideas in
Materials in Transport http://depts.washin Edmonds Community
advanced materials, educating
Aircraft Structures gton.edu/amtas/ College;
and training aviation
(AMTAS) Florida International
professionals, and facilitating
University;
knowledge transfer among
University of Utah
industry, government, and
academia.
Using innovative research,
education and public outreach to http://www.conserv
Center for Conservation
address human impacts on ationbiology.uw.ed
Biology
threatened and endangered u/
species around the world.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 107
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Center for Ecosystem
Sentinels is the umbrella
organization for The Magellanic
and Galápagos Penguin Projects,
iGalapagos.org, iArgentina.org,
and student research and
education programs. The Center
works to understand what
sentinel species are telling us,
protect their environment, and
inspire others to take action. We
Center for Ecosystem https://ecosystems
train the next generation of see website for supporters
Sentinels entinels.org/
scientists and make a positive
contribution to sentinel species
and their habitats through field
studies, long-term datasets,
scientific publications, persuasive
communication of conservation
science to the general public,
mentorship of early-career
scientists, and use of science to
inform the public and guide
policy.
The Center for Education and
Research in Construction (CERC)
is the locus of research,
scholarship, and discovery at the
UW’s Department of Construction
Center for Education and
Management (CM). CERC’s see website for past and
Research in Construction http://cerc.be.uw.e
Leadership and Operation Team ongoing partnerships
(CERC) du/
is responsible for the
development and implementation
of the Center to meet the needs of
the CM faculty, students and the
Center’s many industry partners.
The mission of the Center for
Global Field Study is to facilitate Michigan State University;
and provide field-based research, Central Oregon Community
training, and outreach education College;
opportunities for students and College of Coastal
Center for Global Field
professionals from the University http://depts.washin Georgia;
Study
of Washington and partnering gton.edu/cgfs/ One Earth Institute;
institutions around the world in Trinity University;
areas relating to environmental +various international
and global health – at the human- institutions
environment interface.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 108
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
CHanGE collaboratively develops
and promotes innovative
approaches to understanding and
managing the risks of global
environmental change. CHANGE
conducts research and policy
analysis, education and training,
Center for Health and the and technical assistance and
Global Environment capacity building, integrating http://globalchange
(CHanGE) health, environmental, and social .uw.edu/
sciences. CHANGE focuses on
health outcomes associated with
the consequences of global
environmental changes, such as
extreme weather and climate
events, water and food security,
and infectious diseases.
The University of Washington
Center for Integrated Design (CID)
promotes a healthy, energy
efficient built environment
through research, education and
outreach initiatives. Located at
the Bullitt Center in Seattle, WA,
the Center serves as a hub for
Center for Integrated
interdisciplinary research teams http://cid.be.uw.ed
Design
to collaborate, share resources u/
and improve knowledge on high
performance building design. The
Center is composed of the
Integrated Design Lab (research,
technical assistance, and
outreach) and the Carbon
Leadership Forum.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 109
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Center for Intelligent Materials
and Systems (CIMS) was
established in 2000 by a group of
faculty in the College of
Engineering and the Department
of Botany with an aim of
accelerating the research and
educational program in the area
of design of actuator materials,
actuators and bio-inspired design
of intelligent materials and
Center for Intelligent systems. The goals of CIMS are
Materials and Systems multi-fold, (1) design a series of http://depts.washin
(CIMS) actuator materials and their gton.edu/cims/
devices, (2) learn intelligent
sensor and actuation mechanism
inherent in biological species,
thus inspiring our brains while the
bio-inspired knowledge will be
transferred to designing man-
made materials and systems, and
(3) our research subjects and
products remain to be compatible
with healthy functions of
surrounding natural environment.
CINTRAFOR helps forest products
exports by:
Collecting & distributing
information on rapidly changing
foreign markets, including
consumption trends, distribution
channels, trading systems,
codes/standards & the regulatory
environment.
Center for International
Applying research findings to
Trade in Forest Products http://www.cintrafo
technical, environmental,
(CINTRAFOR) r.org/
economic, social & resource
management problems that
impede exports of specific
products
Training forest products
professionals by providing
funding for graduate level
research on the international
trade of forest products.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 110
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Center for Preservation and
Adaptive Reuse (CPAR), in the
College of Built Environments at
the University of Washington,
seeks to support innovative
interdisciplinary research,
advocacy and education of our
Historic Seattle;
existing, historic and culturally
Washington Trust for
Center for Preservation rich built environments. Realizing
http://centerforpres Historic Preservation;
and Adaptive Reuse that preserving and adapting our
ervationandadaptiv National Trust for Historic
(CPAR) built fabric is both socially and
ereuse.org/ Preservation;
environmentally sustainable, the
4Culture
center seeks to find new,
innovative and collaborative
methods to address how we can
preserve and reuse our diverse
built environments for more
vibrant cities, towns and
landscapes.
Battelle;
The Center for Studies in
Bill and Melinda Gates
Demography and Ecology (CSDE)
Foundation;
supports population research and
Portland State University;
training at the University of
Seattle Pacific University;
Washington. It also functions as a
Center for Studies in Seattle University;
regional center that gives http://csde.washin
Demography and Ecology Simon Fraser University;
population scientists at affiliated gton.edu/
University of Victoria;
institutions in the Pacific
Washington State
Northwest access to cutting-edge
University;
demographic infrastructure and
Western Washington
services.
University
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 111
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The mission of the Center for
Sustainable Forestry at Pack
Forest is to actively advance the
concept and practice of
sustainability and to engage
students, scientists,
professionals, policy makers, and
community members through
Center for Sustainable research, demonstration, service,
http://www.packfor
Forestry at Pack Forest and continuing education and
est.org/
outreach in natural resources and
environmental science and
management. The Center seeks
to identify the boundaries of
sustainable forest ecosystems
that include extraction of forest
products, while maintaining
ecosystem integrity.
Sustaining managed to natural
Center for Urban
ecosystems – and the human Washington State
Horticulture (UW Botanic http://depts.washin
spirit – through plant research, University
Gardens) gton.edu/uwbg/
display, and education.
The Center for Urban Waters is
highly collaborative university-led
applied science program
dedicated to finding globally-
applicable solutions to urban
City of Tacoma;
water quality problems in the
Puget Sound Partnership;
Pacific Northwest. The center
Center for Urban Waters http://www.tacoma Port of Tacoma;
provides an intellectual
.uw.edu/cuw Puyallup Tribal Fisheries;
environment where people with a
RAIN Incubator;
diverse mix of skills can
Stormwater COI
collaborate to develop innovative
approaches to environmental
restoration and protection and to
sustainable urban development.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 112
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Clean Energy Institute (CEI) at
the University of Washington was
founded in 2013 with funds from
the state of Washington. Its
mission is to accelerate the
adoption of a scalable clean
energy future that will improve the
health and economy of our state,
nation, and world.
https://www.cei.wa
Clean Energy Institute
To accomplish this mission, CEI shington.edu/about
(CEI)
supports the advancement of /
next-generation solar energy and
battery materials and devices, as
well as their integration with
systems and the grid. The
institute creates the ideas and
educates the people needed to
generate these innovations, while
facilitating the pathways to bring
them to market.
The Climate Impacts Group
supports the development of
climate resilience by advancing
understanding and awareness of
climate risks, and working closely City of Tacoma;
with public and private entities to Puget Sound Partnership;
apply this information as they act Port of Tacoma;
Climate Impacts Group
to shape society’s future. We https://cig.uw.edu/ Puyallup Tribal Fisheries;
develop and deliver scientific RAIN Incubator;
information that is both useful to Stormwater COI
and used by the decision making
community by fully integrating
research with stakeholder
engagement.
Columbia Basin Research (CBR) is
an interdisciplinary research
center under the joint leadership
of James Anderson, Research
Professor, and John Skalski,
Columbia Basin Research http://www.cbr.was
Professor of Biological Statistics.
hington.edu/
They provide quantitative
approaches to issues involving
endangered salmonid stocks in
the Columbia River Basin.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 113
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Design Machine Group (DMG)
is a collaborative research group.
Its mission is to explore and
facilitate development of a new
generation of design software,
application of simulation,
analysis, and fabrication
processes in the design process,
and utilization of digital
technologies to create smart
Design Machine Group environments. Students from http://dmg.be.wash
many disciplinary backgrounds ington.edu/
join our faculty to pursue research
in areas that include design
methods, simulation and analysis,
collaboration and community,
digital fabrication, human
computer interfaces for design,
smart environments, augmented
and virtual reality and other
related topics.
Cascadia Data Alliance;
West Big Data Innovation
Hub;
MetroLab Network;
Moore - Sloan Data
The mission of the eScience Science Environments;
Institute is to support data-driven University of California -
discovery in all fields – to ensure Berkeley;
that UW is a leader in advancing New York University;
eScience Institute http://escience.was
the techniques and technologies Bill & Melinda Gates
hington.edu/
of data-driven discovery, and in Foundation;
making them accessible to International
researchers across the campus. Neuroinformatics
Coordinating Facility;
Institute of Translational
Health Sciences;
Cascadia Urban Analytics
Cooperative
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 114
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Friday Harbor Laboratories (FHL)
is a research center in the College
of the Environment with a mission
of Marine research, teaching and
outreach. FHL is world renowned
for research on marine biology,
oceanography and fisheries. The
waters around San Juan Island
are relatively free from pollution
with swift tideways as well as
quiet bays and lagoons. A tidal
range of about three meters
exposes diverse intertidal areas
of rock, sand and mud. The flora
Friday Harbor Laboratories and fauna are exceptionally rich.
https://fhl.uw.edu/
Representatives of nearly all
major groups of marine algae,
invertebrates and fish can be
collected at the shore and depths
down to 300 meters can be
explored by dredging and other
collecting techniques. The 490-
acre tract of land on which the
Laboratories are located, and the
marine waters of the region are
biological preserves. The
Laboratories also manage other
nearby biological preserves, also
rich with diverse flora and fauna.
The Green Futures Lab works with
the University of Washington,
local communities and see website for
international partners to provide professional affiliates,
Green Futures Lab http://greenfutures.
education and collaboration that partners, sponsors, and
washington.edu/
promotes application and funders
development of urban green
infrastructure.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 115
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Institute for Hazards Mitigation
Planning and Research is an
interdisciplinary academic
Institute housed in the College of
Hazard Reduction and
Built Environments. We are
Recovery Center;
dedicated to exploring ways to
Center for Texas Beaches
Institute for Hazard enhance Community Resilience.
and Shores;
Mitigation Planning and Our faculty and researchers are http://mitigate.be.u
Institute for Sustainability;
Research involved in numerous innovative w.edu/
Texas A&M University;
and path-breaking research
University of Hawaii;
initiatives with the ultimate goal
FEMA
of enhancing community capacity
to anticipate, respond to, cope
with, and recover from natural and
man-made hazard events.
The Integrated Design Lab’s Seattle City Light;
mission is to provide regional Puget Sound Energy;
design teams access to the best AIA National;
building-performance knowledge AIA Seattle;
available, project-by-project City of Seattle - Office of
Integrated Design Lab support, and education and http://idlseattle.co Sustainability and
training on how to design, m/ Environment;
construct and operate the National Science
healthiest, most productive and Foundation;
energy efficient buildings in North U.S. Department of Energy;
America. Bullitt Foundation
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 116
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Joint Center for Aerospace
Technology Innovation (JCATI)
was established in 2012 to
support the aerospace industry in
Washington State by:
pursuing joint industry-university
research in new technologies that
are relevant to aerospace firms;
providing aerospace industry-
focused research opportunities
for engineering and computer
science students at the University
see website for JCATI
of Washington, Washington State
Joint Center for Aerospace funded research at
University, and Washington’s
Technology Innovation Washington's four-year
other public four-year institutions https://jcati.org/
(JCATI) institutions of higher
of higher education, through
education
assisting the development of
internship programs and
undergraduate and graduate
student research opportunities
that give students hands-on
experience with aerospace firms;
and in concert with aerospace
firms and aerospace industry
associations, identifying research
needs and opportunities for
technology transfer that benefit
the State’s aerospace industry.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 117
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Joint Institute for the Study of
the Atmosphere and Ocean
(JISAO) is a collaborative
research institute between the
University of Washington and the
National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA). Its mission is two-fold:
To conduct multi- and
interdisciplinary research in
atmospheric, oceanic, and fishery
sciences, and on impacts and
policy that provides
understanding of climate and
ecosystem interactions, the way
in which these interactions are
Joint Institute for the National Oceanic and
affected by natural variability and
Study of the Atmosphere https://jisao.uw.ed Atmospheric
anthropogenic perturbations, and
and Ocean (JISAO) u/ Administration
the consequences for natural
systems and human society.
To participate in the education
both of a new generation of
students who are environmentally
literate, understand the
interlocking complexity of
environmental problems, and are
trained in solution methods, and
of the citizenry of the Pacific
Northwest and the nation to
enable them to understand the
competing demands of
environmental and societal health
and resource and economic
sustainability.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 118
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Molecular Engineering &
Sciences Institute (MolES) was
founded in 2011 to bring together
faculty teams from across the
University of Washington campus.
MolES catalyzes cross-cutting,
translational research in the areas
of Biotech and Clean Tech by
University of Queensland;
Molecular Engineering and serving as an intellectual
https://www.moles. Japan's National Institute
Sciences Institute accelerator and physical
washington.edu/ for Materials Science
incubator. Through the Institute,
researchers from different
disciplines have opportunities to
come together in a shared space,
interact, exchange ideas and form
collaborations resulting in new
ideas to address complex societal
challenges.
Recognizing a fundamental web
linking peoples’ quality of life to
ecology, long-term economic
vitality and affordable housing,
social vibrancy, diverse
transportation options, and a
coherent and integrated built
Northwest Center for
environment, the Northwest http://depts.washin
Livable Communities
Center for Livable Communities gton.edu/nwclc/
seeks to promote awareness of
these connections and affect the
creation of more livable
communities through applied
research and community
initiatives.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 119
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Our mission is to develop widely
applicable methods and systems
to revitalize the environment and
rural communities, by connecting
and integrating people with the
forests, rivers, and coastlines of
Washington that local and state
residents love and depend on.
The Olympic Peninsula, and the
Olympic Experimental State
Forest in particular, provide a
natural laboratory for developing
Olympic Natural Olympic Forest
this human-ecosystem http://www.onrc.wa
Resources Center Collaborative
perspective. The new goal is to shington.edu/
develop optimal levels of
ecosystem wellbeing that can be
sustained through time through
community engagement and field
studies and experiments that
evaluate innovative win-wins for
both community and environment
wellbeing. The Olympic Natural
Resources Center is located on
the Olympic Peninsula in Forks,
Washington.
Our mission is to facilitate the
responsible commercialization of
marine energy technologies,
inform regulatory and policy
decisions, and close key gaps in
scientific understanding with a
focus on student growth and
development. We work closely University of Alaska –
Pacific Marine Energy
with a variety of stakeholders, http://depts.washin Fairbanks;
Center
including marine energy gton.edu/pmec Oregon State University
technology developers,
community members, ocean
users, federal and state
regulators, and government
officials to conduct research on
wave, current, and off-shore wind
energy conversion.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 120
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Pacific Northwest
Agricultural Safety and Health
Pacific Northwest Center conducts research and
Agricultural Safety and promotes best safety and health https://deohs.wash
Health Center practices for producers and ington.edu/pnash
workers in farming, fishing, and
forestry.
The Pacific Northwest
Cooperative Ecosystems Studies
Unit (PNW CESU) is a cooperative
venture between 17 leading
academic institutions in the
Pacific Northwest region, one
state agency and ten federal land
management and natural
resource research organizations.
The University of Washington
serves as host to the PNW CESU.
To date the United States had
been divided into 17 bio- see website for partner
Pacific Northwest
geographic regions, each served https://depts.washi academic institutions,
Cooperative Ecosystems
by a distinct CESU, with all ngton.edu/pnwcesu agencies, NGOs, and non-
Studies Unit (CESU)
regions connected in one national / profits
network. The overarching goal of
the CESU network is to improve
the scientific base for managing
federal lands by providing
resource managers with high-
quality scientific research,
technical assistance, and
education. Since beginning in
October 2000, over 450 projects
have been funded through the
PNW CESU Cooperative
Agreement.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 121
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Pacific Northwest Transportation
Consortium (PacTrans) at the
University of Washington is a
Regional University
Oregon State University;
Transportation Center (UTC)
University of Alaska –
administered by the United States
Fairbanks;
Pacific Northwest Department of Transportation
University of Idaho;
Transportation Consortium (USDOT) through its Research http://www.pactran
Washington State
(PacTrans) and Innovative Technology s.org/
University;
Administration (RITA). PacTrans
Boise State University;
focuses on developing data-
Gonzaga University
driven solutions for the diverse
mobility needs of people, goods,
and data, in the Pacific
Northwest.
The Polar Science Center (PSC) is
a unit of the Applied Physics
Laboratory at the University of
Washington. Polar Science Center
researchers observe and model
the physical processes that
control the nature and distribution
of sea ice and polar ice sheets,
see website of affiliate
Polar Science Center the structure and movement of http://psc.apl.wash
scientists
high-latitude oceans, and the ington.edu/
interactions between air, sea, ice
and biota. The Center has made
major contributions to the
understanding of how the arctic
system has undergone important
changes during the past four
decades.
To develop advanced technology
solutions to improve the quality &
USDA Forest Service –
reliability of information needed
Precision Forestry PNW Station;
for planning, implementation, & http://sites.uw.edu/
Cooperative see website for advisory
monitoring of natural resource uwpfc
board
management, to ensure
sustainable forest management.
Help society tackle climate
change by providing a framework
National Oceanic and
Program on Climate of intense cross-disciplinary
Atmospheric
Change collaboration that furthers https://pcc.uw.edu/
Administration
research and education in climate
science.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 122
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
At the University of Washington
Puget Sound Institute (PSI), our
goal is to provide Puget Sound
policymakers with relevant and
timely analysis of the best and
latest findings from the science
community, allowing often-
difficult choices to stand on solid,
vetted science.
https://www.puget
Puget Sound Institute soundinstitute.org/ USEPA
Since its founding in 2010, PSI
has advanced our understanding
of Puget Sound through
synthesis, original research and
communication in support of
state and federal agencies, tribes
and other organizations. PSI
receives major funding from the
U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.
The 50-year-old QRC is a
community of scholars
collaborating and fostering
interdisciplinary environmental
Quaternary Research research at the University of
http://depts.washin
Center Washington through strategic
gton.edu/qrc/
investments in seed grants,
expeditions, seminars,
workshops, and the publication of
the journal, Quaternary Research.
Founded in 1919, the School of
Aquatic and Fishery Sciences
(SAFS) is dedicated to sustaining
healthy marine and freshwater
environments. Our faculty
conduct innovative research from
the organism to the ecosystem
School of Aquatic and scale and are recognized leaders
Fishery Sciences (SAFS) in aquatic biology, sustainable https://fish.uw.edu/
fisheries management, aquatic
resource conservation, and
resource management. We study
natural systems and species and
present solutions to foster the
sustainable use of aquatic
resources.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 123
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The mission of the Stand B.C. Ministry of Forests;
Management Cooperative (SMC) http://apps.sefs.uw FP Innovations
is to provide a continuing source .edu/research.smc/ FORINTECK;
of high quality information on the NW Tree Improvement Co-
long-term effects of silvicultural op;
treatments and treatment Oregon State University;
Stand Management regimes on stand and tree growth University of British
Cooperative (SMC) and development of wood and Columbia;
product quality. U.S. Forest Service Pacific
Northwest;
+multiple land managing
organizations, suppliers,
and analytical
organizations
The mission of the Superfund see website for external
Basic Research Program is to http://deohs.washi advisory committee
characterize human health and ngton.edu/srp/
ecological risks associated with
Superfund Research
neurotoxic chemicals that occur
Program
at Superfund hazardous waste
sites, and to develop methods to
remediate exposures to these
agents.
The Supply Chain Transportation see website for advisory
& Logistics Center is a world https://depts.washi board and research project
leader in supply chain, ngton.edu/sctlctr/n funders and partners
transportation, and logistics ode/1
research and education serving
Supply Chain and the powerful nexus of industry,
Transportation Logistics transportation infrastructure
Center agencies, and policy makers. The
Center integrates in-depth
consultation with industry and the
public sector, transformative
research, and executive
education.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 124
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Urban Ecology Research
Laboratory (UERL) is directed by http://www.urbane
Professor Marina Alberti, and co.washington.edu/
includes interdisciplinary PhD
students, post-doctoral research
associates, research scientists,
and affiliate faculty from diverse
disciplines who collaborate to
Urban Ecology Research
study coupled human-natural
Laboratory
systems. As part of the University
of Washington’s innovative
leadership in urban ecology
research and education, the UERL
transcends traditional disciplinary
boundaries to address some of
society’s most challenging
problems.
Urban Form Lab research aims to Kaiser Permanente
affect policy and to support http://depts.washin Washington Health
approaches to the design and gton.edu/ufl/ Research Institute;
planning of more livable University of Oklahoma;
environments. The UFL Washington State
specializes in geospatial analyses University
of the built environment using
multiple micro-scale data in
Geographic Information Systems
(GIS). Current research includes
the development of novel GIS
Urban Form Lab
routines for performing spatial
inventories and analyses of the
built environment, and of spatially
explicit sampling techniques.
Projects address such topics as
land monitoring, neighborhood
and street design, active
transportation, non-motorized
transportation safety, physical
activity, and access to food
environments.
Urban@UW connects people
across disciplines and sectors to
Association of Washington
work together to build and
Cities;
steward future cities. We seek to https://depts.washi
Urban@UW City of Seattle;
improve the sustainability, ngton.edu/urbanuw
Microsoft;
resilience, justice, and the human /
MacArthur Foundation
and environmental health and
wellbeing of cities.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 125
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The UW Molecular Engineering
Materials Center (MEM-C) is
integrating cutting-edge
collaborative materials research
with training, education, diversity,
outreach, and
knowledge/technology transfer to
accelerate the development of
future energy conversion,
information processing, and
UW Molecular Engineering sensing technologies, enhance
Pacific Northwest National
Materials Center (UW the scientific experiences of http://www.mem-
Laboratory
MEM-C) trainees and senior investigators c.washington.edu/
alike, and inspire STEM
engagement in the broader
community. MEM-C’s research
program comprises two
synergistic Interdisciplinary
Research Groups (IRGs) that
share the common goal of
engineering complex photoactive
electronic materials but take very
different approaches.
The Washington Cooperative Fish
and Wildlife Research Unit
(WACFWRU) is one of 40
comparable units within the U.S. Geological Survey;
United States established to U.S. Fish and Wildlife
facilitate cooperation between the Service;
Federal Government, colleges and Washington State
universities, the states, and University;
Washington Cooperative private organizations in improving Washington Department of
https://depts.washi
Fish and Wildlife Research the management of the nation’s Ecology;
ngton.edu/wacfwru
Unit fish and wildlife resources. Units Washington Department of
/
accomplish this by conducting Fish and Wildlife;
natural resource management Washington Department of
research, educating persons to Natural Resources;
intelligently manage natural Wildlife Management
resources, and providing research Institute
findings to individuals or agencies
that put this information to
practical use.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 126
Description
Center, Institute, Lab, (quoted from school's
or Faculty Member program materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Washington Sea Grant serves
communities, industries and the
people of Washington state, the
Pacific Northwest and the nation
through research, education and
outreach by: National Oceanic and
Identifying and addressing Atmospheric
Washington Sea Grant
important marine issues; http://www.wsg.wa Administration;
Program
Providing better tools for shington.edu/ see website for advisory
management of the marine committee
environment and use of its
resources; and
Initiating and supporting strategic
partnerships within the marine
community.
Coordinates transportation
Washington State
research efforts — both state and
Washington State University;
commercial, public and private —
Transportation Center http://depts.washin Washington State
and develops research
(TRAC) gton.edu/trac/ Department of
opportunities both nationally and
Transportation
locally
The mission of the Western
United States Department
Regional Aquaculture Center
of Agriculture;
(WRAC) is to support aquaculture
see website for
research, development,
Western Regional participating universities
demonstration, and education to
Aquaculture Center http://depts.washin from Alaska, Arizona,
enhance viable and profitable U.S.
(WRAC) gton.edu/wracuw/ California, Colorado, Idaho,
aquaculture production for the
Montana, Nevada, New
benefit of consumers, producers,
Mexico, Oregon, Utah,
service industries, and the
Washington, and Wyoming
American economy.
Table 2: Washington State University
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Bioproducts, Sciences, and
Bioproducts, Engineering Laboratory (BSEL)
Sciences, and provides space for critical research to https://tricities.wsu
Engineering advance research in identifying useful .edu/research/bsel/
Laboratory (BSEL) non-energy products that can be used
to promote energy sustainability.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 127
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Center for Bioplastics and
Biocomposites is bringing together
university researchers and industry
members to push the boundaries of
Center for Bioplastics http://www.cb2.iast
renewable resources and establish Iowa State University
and Biocomposites ate.edu/
new revenue creating processes and
products. The center will focus on
developing high-value biobased
products from agricultural feedstocks.
The Center for Environmental
Research, Education, and Outreach
(CEREO) is a progressive network of
more than 350 faculty, staff, students,
Center for and industry leaders working to resolve
Environmental environmental issues through
https://cereo.wsu.e
Research, Education, collaborative partnerships. Guided by a
du/
and Outreach roster of distinguished scientists,
(CEREO) CEREO seeks to apply innovative
technologies and management tools to
the ever-growing challenges of global
climate change and environmental
sustainability.
Our mission is to develop a world
preeminent and Washington relevant
research and educational program in
the areas of agricultural automation
and precision farming, providing a
venue for:
Center for Precision (1) High impact research outcomes for
and Automated our stakeholders http://cpaas.wsu.e
Agricultural Systems (2) True trans-disciplinary collaboration du/
(CPAAS) within Washington State University and
world-wide stake-holders
(3) High quality educational and
research experiences for our students
(4) The incubation and development of
new ideas relevant in an
entrepreneurial climate
CSANR leads efforts in sustainable
Center for Sustaining
agriculture, food, and natural resource
Agriculture and http://csanr.wsu.ed
systems that are economically viable,
Natural Resources u/
environmentally sound, and socially
(CSANR)
responsible.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 128
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
ASCENT works to create science-
based solutions for the aviation
industry’s biggest challenges. A
coalition of 16 leading US research
universities and over 60 private sector
Center of Excellence
stakeholders committed to reducing
for Alternative Jet
the environmental impact of aviation, https://ascent.aero See website for coalition
Fuels and
ASCENT also works in partnership with / universities
Environment
international research programs,
(ASCENT)
federal agencies and national
laboratories to create an all-inclusive
research capability for whatever
environmental impact obstacle the
aviation industry faces.
WSU Lead for multi-state team working
Claudio Stockle stockle@wsu.edu
on agriculture and AI
CAHNRS discovers, develops, and
transfers knowledge that contributes
to a safe and abundant food supply;
College of promotes sustainability of agricultural
Agricultural, Human, and economic systems; supports https://cahnrs.wsu.
and Natural Resource energy innovations; encourages careful edu/
Sciences stewardship of natural resources and
ecological systems; and enhances the
well-being of individuals, families, and
communities.
Scientists at the Composite Materials
& Engineering Center (CMEC) develop
new building materials and fuels from
Composite Materials a range of recycled and virgin
https://cmec.wsu.e
& Engineering Center resources. They also design structural
du/
(CMEC) systems that utilize the new materials
effectively. Rigorous structural testing
ensures that innovations are efficient,
economically viable, and safe.
Research, education, and outreach to
Energy Systems https://esic.wsu.ed
solve challenges for modern power
Innovation Center u/
systems.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 129
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The Washington State University Food
Systems Program delivers
multidisciplinary expertise across
academic, research, and extension,
providing specialized resources for
farmers and food systems
Food Systems contributors. We seek to work with https://foodsystem
Program communities throughout the state to s.wsu.edu/
foster viable farm businesses, optimize
sustainable natural resource
stewardship, and to promote scaled
processing and distribution, always in
the pursuit of access to healthy food
for all.
The following are key goals and
objectives for the Freight Policy
Transportation Institute:
Improve understanding of the
importance of efficient and effective
freight transportation to both the
regional and national economy
Freight Policy Address the need for improved
http://ses.wsu.edu/
Transportation intermodal freight transportation, as
fpti
Institute well as policies and actions that can be
implemented to lower operating costs,
increase safety and lower
environmental impacts of freight
transportation nationwide
Improve freight transportation
performance to specific industries and
sectors of the economy
The IMPACT Center, located in the
School of Economic Sciences at
Washington State University, seeks to
address economic, social, political, and
technical problems that affect the
competitiveness of Washington’s http://ses.wsu.edu/
IMPACT Center
agriculture and related sectors. Being impact-center/
positioned in a major land grant
university enables IMPACT to draw on
expertise and knowledge from an array
of researchers in a wide range of
fields.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 130
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
University of Alaska –
Fairbanks;
https://sites.google
Airport Cooperative
.com/site/greensm
Laboratory for Research Program;
Developing “greener” pervious artinfrastructure/la
Advanced & American Coal Ash
concretes made from recycled boratory-of-
Sustainable Association Educational
materials and nano-/micro-sized advanced-
Cementitious Foundation;
materials sustainable-
Materials (ASCM) Washington State
cementitious-
Department of
materials
Transportation;
Simpson Strong-Tie, Inc.
University of Michigan;
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology;
University of New
Conducting air quality research, Hampshire;
Laboratory for
emphasizing biosphere/atmosphere http://www.lar.wsu. Montana Institute of
Atmospheric
interactions and regional air quality edu/ Technology;
Research (LAR)
measurements and modeling University of Washington;
Purdue University;
Aerodyne Research, Inc.;
National Center for
Atmospheric Research
The mission of the WSU Puyallup Low
Impact Development (LID) Research
Program is to reduce the impacts of
stormwater on streams, lakes,
wetlands, coastal areas and food
Low Impact https://www.wastor
through effective, research-based
Development mwatercenter.org/l
application of LID principles. These
Program ow-impact/
approaches are part of a larger suite of
land and water management tools. We
also provide education and outreach to
the community on sustainable
stormwater practices.
Conducts research on the connections
Multi-Scale Land
between climate, hydrology, land use, https://labs.wsu.ed
Surface Hydrology
and ecological (natural and u/hydro/
Hydro Lab
agricultural) processes
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 131
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
Oregon State University;
https://nararenewa
Thomas Spink Inc.;
This was a USDA research project on bles.org/
University of Washington;
Northwest advanced aviation biofuels and co-products that
Weyerhaeuser;
renewables alliance has now ended. Final research https://research.libr
Pennsylvania State
(NARA) products and reports are available at aries.wsu.edu/xmlu
University;
WSU Research Exchange site i/handle/2376/530
Western Washington
9
University
Strives to highlight WSU’s broad
research portfolio that addresses the
issues around of air and water quality,
Office of Clean https://cleantech.w
biofuel and bioproducts development,
Technology su.edu/
advanced materials, sustainable
infrastructure design, precision
agriculture, and smart grid.
The School of Design and Construction
(SDC) is committed to a transformative
School of Design and https://sdc.wsu.ed
integrated design and construction
Construction u/
education that spans across the
professional disciplines.
MME has research activities in additive
manufacturing; materials engineering
with applications spanning over
nuclear materials, bio-implants and
School of Mechanical microelectronics, among others;
https://mme.wsu.e
and Materials control systems; energy systems
du/
Engineering including batteries, fuel cells and
hydrogen power for space-flight; sports
engineering; and mechanics and
thermo-fluid applications in traditional
and emerging areas.
Smart Grid Develop power system operation and
Demonstration and control algorithms utilizing smart grid https://sgdril.eecs.
Research data and real time validation of these wsu.edu/
Investigation Lab developed algorithms
CSANR project that funds research,
extension, and demonstration of soil
http://csanr.wsu.ed
health best management practices
u/program- see website for citizen
Soil Health Initiative through a network of long-term
areas/soil-health- advisory committee
agroecological research and extension
initiative/
(LTARE) sites across Washington
state’s diverse agricultural systems.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 132
Center, Institute, Description
Lab, or Faculty (quoted from school's program
Member materials) Web Link Joint Partnerships
The WRC has a threefold mission:
To oversee and conduct applied water-
related research
State of Washington To foster the education and training of see website for partner
https://wrc.wsu.ed
Water Research our Nation’s future water professionals organizations and
u/
Center (WRC) To serve as a nexus within the research collaborators
academic community by transferring
research results to those who manage
or use the Nation’s water resources
An internal grant program / teams in
CAHNRS that, in partnership with the
Washington State Department of
Washington Oilseed Agriculture, is committed to supporting see website for WOCS
http://css.wsu.edu/
Cropping Systems the grower and industry-based Team collaborators and
oilseeds/
Project (WOCS) movement to diversify cropping affiliates
system agronomics and markets
through increased adoption and
production of oilseed crops.
We provide stormwater leadership
Washington https://www.wastor
through research, training, and University of Washington
Stormwater Center mwatercenter.org/
education.
https://cahnrs.wsu.
edu/research/grant
WSU Applied
Internal grant program / teams in -resources/internal-
Bioenergy Research Washington State
CAHNRS targeting applied bioenergy competitive-
Program (“Appendix Department of Agriculture
research. grants/applied-
A”)
bioenergy-research-
program-appx-a/
Create and implement a national-scale
simulation platform and data
WSU-PNNL: Advance https://natlab.wsu. Pacific Northwest National
framework to enable advanced grid
Grid Institute edu/grid/ Laboratory
controls and operations for complex
power systems of the future.
Leverage cutting-edge science,
engineering, and analysis to transform
engineered plants and industrial,
WSU-PNNL: https://natlab.wsu. Pacific Northwest National
agricultural and municipal waste into
Bioproducts Institute edu/bioproducts/ Laboratory
valuable materials and chemicals, and
develop a pipeline of talent to meet
future workforce needs.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 133
Table 3: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Center, Institute, Lab,
or Faculty Member Description Web Link Joint Partnerships
The facility will offer a collection
of state-of-the-art research
instrumentation to support https://www.pnnl.g
fundamental research in ov/energy- UW, WSU, and other
Energy Sciences Capability
chemistry, materials science, and sciences-capability- partner universities
computational science and project
collaboration with academic
partners. (Coming 2021)
A national scientific user facility
funded by the U.S. Department of https://www.pnnl.g
Environmental Molecular Energy with a diverse range of ov/environmental- Academic researchers
Sciences Laboratory instrumentation made available to molecular- may apply
researchers through a peer review sciences-laboratory
process.
Marine-based research and
underwater testbed focused on
Marine Sciences helping the nation achieve coastal https://www.pnnl.g UW, PMEC, and other
Laboratory resilience and sustainable energy ov/marine- collaborators
for coastal and maritime sciences-laboratory
applications.
An interactive utility control room
and platform for researching, https://www.pnnl.g
Energy Infrastructure
developing, and testing ov/electricity-
Operations Center
technologies to improve grid infrastructure-
operations and cybersecurity. operations-center
The DOE’s Office of Electricity has
selected PNNL as the site for a
new, national grid energy storage
https://www.pnnl.g
Grid Storage Launchpad R&D facility to accelerate the
ov/grid-storage-
development of the next
launchpad-pnnl
generation of grid energy storage
technologies. (Coming 2023)
Enables researchers and
operations staff to connect to
intelligent infrastructure from the https://www.pnnl.g
Building Operations
smart grid, allowing access to ov/building-
Control Center
extensive data from PNNL operations-control-
campus buildings, systems, and center
components.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 134
Center, Institute, Lab,
or Faculty Member Description Web Link Joint Partnerships
This research facility, in Portland,
https://www.pnnl.g
Connected Lighting OR, is used to study and advance
ov/connected-
Testbed energy-efficient connected
lighting-test-bed
lighting systems.
A unique laboratory space with
equipment to advance research in
https://www.pnnl.g
Systems Engineering electricity markets, generation,
ov/systems-
Building transmission, distribution, and
engineering-
end use, including buildings-grid
building
integration.
Located at Washington State
University Tri-Cities, this facility is
devoted to the science and https://www.pnnl.g
Bioproducts, Sciences, and engineering of deriving energy ov/bioproducts-
WSU
Engineering Laboratory from agricultural and forest sciences-and-
residues, municipal and industrial engineering-
waste streams, and other laboratory
renewable resources.
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 135
Appendix E: Acknowledgments
Many staff at Commerce, as well as subject matter experts from other organizations, made this report possible
through consultation, technical, and organizational assistance throughout the project.
Table 1: Commerce staff acknowledgments
Name Title
Dave Andersen Managing Director Growth Management Services
Joshua Berger Director of Economic Development - Maritime Sector
Karin Berkholtz Executive Director Public Works Board
Glenn Blackmon Manager, Energy Policy Office
Michael Breish Senior Energy Policy Specialist
Janea Delk Executive Director and Tribal Liaison: CERB
JB Ennis Program Specialist
Emily Grossman Lead Policy Advisor
Jennifer Grove Managing Director
Sean Harrington Evergreen Standard and Projects Manager
Forest Products Sector Lead and Rural Economic
Brian Hatfield
Development Advisor
Kate Kelly Senior Energy Policy Specialist
Peter Moulton Senior Energy Policy Specialist
Chuck Murray Senior Energy Policy Specialist
Rachel Revisky Data and Performance Manager
Steve Roberge Deputy Managing Director
Emily Salzburg Buildings Unit Managing Director
Kyle Siefering Commerce Specialist
Rebecca Stillings Manager, Organizational Agility Team
Robin Toth Director of Economic Development, Aerospace Sector
Sarah Vorpahl Senior Energy Policy Specialist
Brittany Wagner Commerce Specialist
Table 2: External subject matter expert acknowledgments
Name Title
Stefano Mazzilli Senior Research Scientist, Puget Sound Institute
Melanie Roberts Director of State and Regional Affairs, PNNL
Ted Sturdevant Center for Sustainable Infrastructure
WASHINGTON'S GREEN ECONOMY 136
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