Public Interest Board Seat

NEEA’s Board of Directors is currently seeking candidates to serve as the Public Interest representative on the NEEA Board. This is a three-year term beginning after the December 2025 Board Meeting and ending after the December Board 2028 Board Meeting. This seat is eligible for additional three-year terms.

What would your role be?

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to assist the region in accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices across Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to and influence the region’s energy efficiency investment and NEEA’s overall success and mission. You will meet and work with regional energy leaders and utility executives in your role representing the broader public interest for the benefit of NEEA and the region. In short, you will serve as “the voice” of the public interest on the NEEA Board. The term begins on December 10, 2025.

What is NEEA?

 NEEA is an alliance of more than 140 utilities and energy efficiency organizations that works with the market to advance energy-efficient technologies to reduce energy waste in ways that promote reliability, comfort and economic benefits for Northwest consumers and businesses through market transformation. Market transformation involves changing the way products and services are designed, produced, sold and consumed to create lasting, positive impacts. By influencing market behaviors and practices, market transformation aims to make energy-efficient solutions the norm rather than the exception. NEEA works in partnership with utilities and other stakeholders to increase consumer and business choice through these efforts by bringing new energy-efficient products, services and practices to the Northwest in cost effective and lasting ways. Click here to read more about how NEEA does this.

What are the criteria for selection? 

1. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of energy efficiency in the region
2. Familiarity with NEEA’s work, mission and purpose, and general understanding of market transformation principles
3. Able and willing to represent NEEA in public forums and settings
4. Ability to be a constructive critic and advocate
5. Strong understanding of state energy policy and utility industry issues and decision makers that can affect NEEA’s operating environment
6. Interest in working with utilities, the Energy Trust of Oregon and Bonneville Power Administration
7. A history of public interest activities in the region
8. Ability to consider and represent the diverse perspectives of stakeholders throughout the region

Important note: The seat cannot be held by someone who has a material conflict of interest with NEEA’s work.

What is the composition of the current NEEA Board?

The NEEA Board is comprised of 21 individuals as follows:

• Fifteen representatives of the funding organizations
• Four selected by the Governors of the four Northwest states
• One indirect representative of small electric utilities
• One representative of the public interest (this position)

Who were the prior Public Interest Board members?

The current three-year term is held by Eileen Quigley, Executive Director of the Clean Energy Transition Institute. Previous Public Interest Board Members were Ben Otto from the Idaho Conservation League and Bob Jenks from the Oregon Citizen’s Utility Board.

What is the time commitment?

The NEEA Board typically meets four times each year, in March, June, September and December. These meetings are usually two half days and generally rotate between locations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Most Board members also serve on a Board committee. Travel expenses for Board related travel are reimbursable by NEEA. 

What is the process?

A Public Interest selection committee will review all applicants, interview the top candidates and make a recommendation for presentation to the Board at the NEEA Board Meeting on December 9, 2025.

If you are interested in being considered for this important seat on NEEA’s Board, please respond by email directly to: jwaian@neea.org by July 24, 2025. Please include a resume, references and a letter that addresses your interest in NEEA and this Board seat, your qualifications in relation to the selection criteria for the position and your contact information. 

Open to applicants in Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho