NW Natural Clean Energy Fellows

APPLICATION OPEN FOR 2021 NW NATURAL CLEAN ENERGY FELLOWS -- APPLY HERE

Overview

In Summer/Fall 2020, CE launched its NW Natural Clean Energy Fellows program. This program, geared toward systems-thinking for a decarbonized future, will work with a cohort of educator leaders in Northwest Natural territory to develop and refine scope-and-sequence curriculum geared toward the topics of renewable natural gas, renewable hydrogen, and other electricity-to-gas technology. CE is hoping to work top-down with districts interested in developing NGSS-aligned, engineering-and inquiry-driven to identify professional learning communities and leaders that they believe would be highly effective at achieving these goals. Teachers participating in the curriculum lab receive a $2,500 stipend (if they apply individually) as compensation for their time. 1-2 of the educators will be slected in 2022 to lead professional development for their unit.

Why Renewable Gas?

In the face of climate change, it is imperative that every sector possible strives toward decarbonization and a shift toward advanced grid and clean energy technologies. Renewable gas is critical to realizing this future. Renewable natural gas is methane captured from decomposition and waste treatment processes that would otherwise enter the atmosphere. Renewable hydrogen is hydrogen gas that can be produced using excess clean electricity and injected into existing natural gas pipelines. NW Natural is committed to exploring and investing in these technologies throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Clean Energy Fellows -- CURRENTLY SEEKING LEADERS

The program is presently entering Phase 2, and is recruiting a cohort of Clean Energy Fellows to draft, test, and refine curriculum.

Please use this link to apply, and take a look at the application PDF beforehand here.

Important Dates:

  • Application Opens December 1
  • Application Due January 15
  • Fellows Selected and Notified February 1

Program Objectives:

  1. Fellows will work individually or in partnerships to create new curriculum.
  2. Fellows will gather with other Fellows in the cohort semi-regularly to check in, co-work, and provide support and feedback to each other on their curricula.
  3. Fellows will test curriculum or pilot their program.
  4. Fellows will adjust curriculum following classroom testing.
  5. Fellows will develop final curriculum including complete lesson plans (per CE Template to be developed), instructional supports, resources, extensions, assessments, etc.
  6. Fellows will collaborate with subject matter experts from Northwest Natural and other industry areas to vet curriculum and provide career connection options for the region.
  7. Fellows will record a video explaining curriculum and its highlights.
  8. Fellows will present curriculum at a NW Natural Fellows Showcase in December 2021/January 2022.

Fellows Network

Fellows participating in the NW Natural Fellows program will become pioneering members of the emerging CE Fellows network (launching in 2021), a professional network of educators who are engaged in fostering the next generation of energy leaders by promoting high-quality equitable energy education. Fellows in the network will have special access to funding opportunities, professional learning, networking and thought leadership opportunities with other educators and industry professionals nationwide. Fellows in the network will also have access to special contract opportunities with CE as advisors and project leaders in future years.

Program Sponsor

NW Natural has been a critical part of our Northwest communities for over 160 years.  We take great pride in delivering reliable, safe and affordable energy. Today’s challenge is climate change – an imperative that requires our collective action, and NW Natural has an important role to play in moving to a low carbon future by replacing natural gas with renewable natural gas over time.

The Clean Energy Bright Futures program is partnering with NW Natural, but isn’t a program of NW Natural or staffed by representatives of the company. If you’re looking for questions to other questions please visit the either the NW Natural Less We Can site or for general utility related questions,  www.nwnatural.com.