[Extended] Volunteer (Non-Paid) Position - Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund Committee

Full Job Description

APPLY HERE: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0198ecc398aa70b58adf22761761b4f9

Are you looking for a space where your passion, knowledge, and skills will contribute to a more just society? Do you envision your city as one that advances racial justice and leads with equity to provide a clean energy future for frontline communities? The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) Committee is seeking leaders like you. With your help, we can ensure the most impacted Portlanders are prepared for a changing climate as we move toward our goal of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Overview

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) is responsible for investing in community-led and community-inspired projects that reduce carbon emissions while expanding workforce pathways and economic opportunity for communities that have faced barriers to employment in the clean energy economy.

PCEF provides grants and contracts to nonprofit, government, and for-profit entities for projects focused on clean energy, transportation decarbonization, green infrastructure, regenerative agriculture, and green job training.

PCEF focuses its investments to low-income individuals and communities that face heightened vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.

PCEF now allocates funds according to 5-year climate investment plans.

The program is expected to distribute over $1.6 Billion through community responsive grants and strategic programs described in its Climate Investment Plan (CIP), approved by Portland City Council in September 2023.

The PCEF Committee, a nine-member volunteer body, is an integral part of the PCEF program and is responsible for:

1. Recommending, updating, and amending climate investment plans to Portland City Council,
2. Evaluating the effectiveness of the program in achieving its goals, and
3. Optionally participating in subcommittees, grant application review panels, etc.

Mission Objectives

It is important for people who are interested in serving on the Committee to understand and support the PCEF program’s purpose and objectives:

The purpose of the PCEF program is to provide a consistent long-term funding source and oversight structure to invest in climate action projects that support social, economic, and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, including the development of a diverse and well-trained workforce and contractor pool to perform work that reduces or sequesters greenhouse gases.

The Committee’s Guiding Principles describe the values by which the PCEF program is administered: justice driven, accountable, community powered, and focused on climate action with multiple benefits. More information about the Guiding Principles can be found here.

Total number of advisory seats: 9

Number of seats available: 3

Requirements

To be eligible for the advisory committee, members must live, work, go to school or worship in the City of Portland.

Who we are looking for

The PCEF Committee is committed to ensuring that Portland's diverse communities see themselves on the Committee. Committee members must have a demonstrated commitment to addressing climate change and empowering historically disadvantaged groups.

In this recruitment, we are seeking three new members:

• Two seats for individuals with significant, demonstrated expertise in at least one of the following areas:
  • Residential renewable energy and energy efficiency
  • Workforce development, job training, or apprenticeship programs that serve workforce priority populations
• One seat for an individual with broad climate expertise. This could include experience in climate policy, climate justice, green infrastructure, transportation decarbonization, regenerative agriculture, or other fields relevant to the PCEF mission.

Interested parties who meet the above qualifications and are interested in serving the community by advancing equitable investments in climate action - we invite your application!

Time commitment

• The Committee generally meets every month for two to three hours each meeting with smaller briefing opportunities between meetings. Meetings are currently either online or hybrid with both in-person and virtual attendance options.
• Committee members are expected to set aside time to correspond and review materials in between meetings.
• Members are appointed to four-year terms and may serve no more than eight consecutive years.
• Members may receive a stipend of $500 per year for the duration of their service.

We remove barriers
Let us know if there are barriers to your participation. Dinner will be provided at evening in-person meetings. Childcare and/or transportation cost reimbursements are available if you need those to participate fully.

Volunteer ethics
People who join this committee will become “public officials,” which means that while you serve you must behave fairly and ethically. We will provide training on this once you are accepted. Part of following Public Officials Ethics laws means you must tell the group when you or a relative may financially benefit (or avoid fees) by your recommendations. This is called a “conflict of interest.” If you tell us about potential conflicts of interest that does not mean you cannot serve, in fact, many committees have potential members with conflicts of interest. We appreciate your ethical inclusion of possible conflicts of interest on the form included in the application.

Qualifications

APPLY HERE: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/0198ecc398aa70b58adf22761761b4f9

Applications will be accepted indefinitely

To talk with someone about this opportunity or to receive assistance completing the application, please contact the PCEF Committee staff liaison at raffaele.timarchi@portlandoregon.gov or 971-469-6364.

Voluntary & confidential demographic information
The City of Portland is committed to diversity, inclusion, and equity. Completing the demographic information on the application is voluntary, but we encourage you to provide that information. The City uses this information to help ensure that advisory body appointments represent a broad cross-section of community. Your information will not be used during the recruitment nor the selection process. State and federal law prohibit use of this information to discriminate against you. Please send questions to: AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov

General questions
For general questions about the Advisory Bodies program, the volunteer recruitment process, or other upcoming advisory body opportunities please send an email to AdvisoryBodies@Portlandoregon.gov.

We encourage you to apply
We welcome you to browse our website to learn more about the bureau and the PCEF program:https://www.portland.gov/bps/cleanenergy

Do you have questions or need more information? Contact raffaele.timarchi@portlandoregon.gov or 971-469-6364.