Associate, Environmental Permitting

What The Role Is

Clearway Energy Group is seeking a highly motivated, development-minded Associate to join our Environmental Permitting team. The Associate will be a critical member of Clearway’s Development team, helping ensure that our development projects are designed to be compliant with local, state, and federal regulations.

Reporting to the Senior Director, Environmental Permitting, the Associate, Environmental Permitting is responsible for supporting discretionary permitting and environmental survey activities required for Clearway’s 30 GW solar, wind, and storage project pipeline. Working closely with Clearway’s Permitting Manager(s) and/or Development Project Manager, the Associate will coordinate with environmental consultants, other Clearway departments such as Engineering, Real Estate, or our Environmental Compliance team, in the completion of environmental surveys, acquisition of discretionary land use permits, and/or discretionary environmental permits for projects located in the western United States.

The successful candidate will be an early to mid-career professional with at least three years of environmental consulting, land use planning, or site land development experience or related field, with demonstrated exposure to discretionary permitting activities for large capital projects.

What You'll Be Doing

• Contribute technical expertise for a pre-construction development portfolio of utility-scale generation solar,  wind, and energy storage projects in the western region of the United States to ensure that projects obtain necessary discretionary entitlements and agency approvals, and complete necessary diligence and survey activities in compliance with state and federal regulations that are required before commencing construction and achieving financial close
• Working closely with the Senior Director or Manager, Environmental Permitting, develop a strategy with respect to discretionary permit processes and environmental compliance, including the schedule and budgets associated with those activities.
• With guidance from the Senior Director or Manager, Environmental Permitting, manage discrete tasks including but not limited to collection of data from internal Clearway teams necessary for application preparation, coordination and review of draft application materials, and/or coordination of field surveys.
• Support the entitlement process with local, state, and federal government authorities, including day-to-day interaction with city and county planning boards and/or state and federal permitting agencies.
• Coordinate with a network of external consultants in the scoping of biological and cultural surveys and the preparation of diligence documents, including legal counsel for permit opinions and guidance.
• Complete a careful review of documents critical to a successful permitting and financing process.
• Work collaboratively with and be responsive to requests from internal colleagues. Coordinate with and solicit feedback from a network of internal colleagues who are geographically dispersed, in the preparation of land use permit applications and environmental documents
• Support due diligence activities on pre-construction, project acquisition opportunities, adequacy and implications of permits, environmental assessments prepared pursuant to local/state/federal regulations, Phase I ESAs, biological and cultural resource assessments, wetland delineations, and land use restrictions.
• In partnership with the Permitting Manager, review zoning, floodplain, biological resources, wetlands, permitting fees, entitlement processes, and other site-specific considerations to support early project development
• Support the implementation of creative project development approaches that reduce exposure to permitting risks, minimize permitting requirements, and/or optimize development schedules

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, land use planning, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least three years of experience in environmental consulting and/or the energy/utilities industry, or a closely related sector.
• A clear understanding of what a discretionary permit process is, and how it is triggered.
• Familiarity with environmental review processes, including California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), or National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with an understanding of when these are required.
• Familiarity or demonstrated experience supporting the acquisition of land use permits (including conditional use permits, special use permits, and zoning amendments), and environmental approvals and permits pursuant to state and/or federal law.
• Familiarity with federal permit processes, including Section 106 NHPA, Section 7 and 10 Endangered Species Act, and BLM and/or Forest Service Right-of-Way Grants preferred.
• Organized and strategic thinker with knowledge and understanding of key environmental regulations.
• Able to summarize complex issues, identify opportunities, or next steps with limited guidance.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, as well as strong analytical skills and the ability to work independently as well as in multi-disciplinary teams, are required.
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate and think creatively in addressing issues with agencies.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to manage multiple time-sensitive projects simultaneously.
• Candidates for this position will be motivated self-starters who can work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20% as required.

What Would Be Nice

• Demonstrated prior experience or exposure to as many of the following is strongly preferred:
  • National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and similar state environmental processes
  • State licensing processes (i.e., Certificate of Public Necessity and Convenience, Energy Facility Siting Council processes)
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), Bald and Golden Eagle Act (BGEPA)
  • USFWS and state endangered species protection policies and programs, including incidental take permits pursuant to the Endangered Species Act and/or state equivalent
  • Section 404 Nationwide Permit Program, Section 401 Water Quality Certifications, Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act, and state-jurisdictional wetlands permitting
  • Agricultural contracts, including Conservation Reserve Program or Williamson Act Contracts (California)
  • Understanding of diverse forms of renewable electrical power generation technologies (e.g., PV, wind, battery storage).

Clearway will not sponsor non-immigrant visas for this position (H-1B, TN, E-3, etc.).

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