Manager, Environmental Permitting

~ Clearway Energy Group is accelerating the world’s transformation to a clean energy future. With more than 4.7 gigawatts of wind, solar, and energy storage assets in 25 states and a development pipeline across the country, we are offsetting the equivalent of nearly 8 million metric tons of carbon emissions for our customers. ~

• The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA with offices in Carlsbad, CA; Scottsdale, AZ; and Houston, TX.

Summary

Reporting to the Director, Environmental Permitting, the Manager, Environmental Permitting is responsible for leading and directing discretionary permitting and environmental survey activities in support of Clearway Energy Group’s 9 GW solar, wind and storage project pipeline. Working closely with the Development Project Manager, and other such groups as Engineering and Real Estate, the Manager will lead and provide oversight in the development and acquisition of discretionary land use permits, and environmental assessments and surveys completed in compliance with local, state and federal regulations for utility-scale solar and wind projects located in the western United States.

The successful candidate will have at least five years of environmental consulting, land use planning or site land development experience within renewable energy industry or related field, with demonstrated prior expertise in leading or reviewing discretionary permitting activities for large capital projects. Experience in supporting project acquisition and financing due diligence is also preferred.

Principal Responsibilities & Key Results

• Provide technical expertise for a pre-construction development portfolio (9 GW) of utility-scale generation solar and wind projects in western 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 prior to commencing construction and achieving financial close
• Manage the entitlement process with local, state and federal government authorities, including day-to-day interaction with city and county planning boards and state and federal permitting agencies
• Coordinate with and solicit feedback from 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
• Careful review of documents critical to a successful permitting and financing process
  Manage a network of internal colleagues who are geographically dispersed, in the preparation of land use permit applications and environmental documents
• Conduct due diligence on pre-construction, project acquisition opportunities, including evaluating accuracy, 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 development team, review zoning, floodplain, biological resources, wetlands, permitting fees, entitlement processes and other site-specific considerations to support project development
• Support the resolution of land development-related issues that arise during financing, including ensuring that projects comply with lender and tax equity requirements for discretionary permits and land use
• Support the implementation of creative project development approaches that reduce exposure to permitting risks, minimize permitting requirements and/or optimize development schedules
  Evaluate and propose solutions that may arise from various stakeholder concerns during the entitlement process
• Track and engage with advocacy groups to leverage industry support to address streamlined and efficient permitting in Western US

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in natural sciences, land use planning, or related field; Master’s degree preferred
• At least five years of experience in energy/utilities industry or closely-related sector; prior project development experience in wind and/or solar strongly preferred
• Experience in obtaining land use permits (including conditional use permits, special use permits, coastal zone consistency and zoning amendments), and environmental approvals and permits pursuant to state and 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

Prior experience and exposure to as many of the following is strongly preferred:

• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
• State environmental processes including but not limited to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), Hawaii Environmental Policy Act (HEPA) 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
  USFWS Land-Based Wind Energy Guidelines, Eagle Conservation Plan Guidance, and eagle take permits
• Section 404 Nationwide Permit Program, Section 401 Water Quality Certifications, Section 10 Rivers and Harbors Act, and state-jurisdictional wetlands permitting in western states
• Agricultural contracts, including but not limited to Williamson Act Contracts, Farmland Security Zone contracts, Conservation Reserve Program
• Successful Financing of projects, addressing due diligence concerns related to environmental permitting as they arise

Knowledge & Skills:

• Knowledgeable in changes to state and federal regulations such as the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) and Nationwide Permit Program and ability to develop a permitting strategy with consideration to project schedule
• Understanding of diverse forms of renewable electrical power generation technologies (e.g., PV, wind, battery storage)
• In-depth knowledge and understanding of environmental regulations
• Experience in managing consultants and influencing internal stakeholders
• Able to summarize complex issues, identify opportunities or next steps with limited guidance
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 20% as required

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

Clearway Energy Group is strongly committed to a philosophy of equal opportunity and fully complies with equal employment laws, ordinances and regulations for all applicants and employees. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals with disabilities to apply and compete for employment opportunities for which they are qualified.

• If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to recruiting@clearwayenergy.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.