Job Alert: Senior Research Analyst, Local Policy – American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) @ Washington, DC

March 13, 2014 at 5:26 pm

ACEEE, a leading national nonprofit research organization based in Washington, D.C., seeks a qualified research analyst for its Policy Program. ACEEE is an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization of around 50 staff members founded in 1980 that acts as a catalyst to advance energy efficiency policies, programs, technologies, investments, and behaviors.

Position Description:

ACEEE seeks a Senior Research Analyst to focus on local policy as a member of its Utilities, State, and Local Policy team. The position provides a balance of research, analysis, and outreach on energy efficiency policy in the United States as it relates to policy and program implementation by local governments and in cities and metropolitan regions. Efficiency policy issues within the scope of the position include those related to multifamily housing, utility incentive programs, local government operations, building regulations, water and wastewater service provision, and land use/transportation decisions. ACEEE’s local policy work also emphasizes issues of local job creation, economic development, and environmental health benefits of energy efficiency.

Focusing on energy issues across economic sectors at the local level, the research analyst will have a variety of research opportunities in one of ACEEE’s most dynamic and multi-disciplinary programs. The core responsibilities of the position include:

  • Acting as the day-to-day coordinator of a project to improve the energy efficiency of multifamily housing by sustaining existing relationships and building new partnerships between utilities and the housing community. The analyst will work directly with utilities to help improve their multifamily energy efficiency programs and collaborate with affordable housing organizations.
  • Serving as a core staff person for developing technical assistance research for local governments and other local implementation partners, such as energy utilities, and tracking local energy efficiency policy developments. Projects will include developing case studies and “how to” introductions to various energy efficiency topics.
  • Providing major contributions to the biennial City Energy Efficiency Scorecard and the related local policy database, which provide peer comparisons among U.S. cities on energy efficiency policy and performance metrics.

Working at ACEEE, the analyst will lead projects of high visibility and credibility in the energy efficiency, housing and policy communities. As a researcher and project coordinator, the position offers unmatched access to national experts in energy efficiency as well as critical sources of primary data in government agencies and utilities. It also provides an opportunity to develop expertise and leadership experience on one or more topics of energy efficiency policy and programs. ACEEE and its Utilities, State and Local Policy Program are dynamic, growing, and comprised of a highly motivated and collegial team.

Expectations and Responsibilities:

  • Highly analytical and detail-oriented. The analyst will conduct rigorous and peer-reviewed primary research dealing with complex quantitative and qualitative data.
  • Excellent writing skills. The analyst is expected to produce several detailed research reports, white papers, fact sheets, and blog posts on energy efficiency policy and programs.
  • Superb organizational and project coordination skills . The position requires experience coordinating complex, long-term projects independently and as part of teams. The analyst must also balance multiple projects and deadlines.
  • Strong interpersonal skills . He/she will maintain close relationships with a large network of stakeholders across the country in federal, state, local government and in the private sector to inform research and broaden the reach of ACEEE research and technical assistance. The analyst must also coordinate and collaborate with numerous ACEEE staff members on cross-cutting research projects.
  • Articulate and thoughtful . As an author of highly visible reports, the analyst will conduct media interviews and present at conferences and events. The analyst must be able to clearly explain research and positions to laypeople, other experts, and skeptical audiences.
  • Highly motivated, self-starter . The analyst will have to stay apprised of energy efficiency policy and program developments in the utility, buildings, transportation, and industrial sectors.
  • Tech-savvy and quick learner . The analyst will also contribute to pages on ACEEE’s website including those related toLocal Energy Efficiency Policy.

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degree strongly preferred. Degree or rigorous coursework in policy analysis, urban planning, economics, engineering, and/or science;
  • Three or more years of work experience, with demonstrated project development, coordination and leadership experience;
  • Experience in policy analysis or planning, preferably including work on local government issues, including housing or transportation, and energy, environmental, and/or utility policy. Experience working with affordable multifamily housing and utility efficiency programs is strongly preferred but not required;
  • Experience with or sound knowledge of energy efficiency;
  • Demonstrated passion for clean energy, economic development, and environmental issues.

Preferred Start Date: on or about March 31, 2014, based in Washington, D.C.

Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To Apply: Send cover letter, resume, and brief (1-2 pages) writing sample to job_openings@aceee.org and use “Local Policy Research Analyst” in the subject line. We do not accept phone calls.

ACEEE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination with regard to race, sex, color, age, religion, creed, class, sexual orientation, national origin, and disability.

See here for more info.: http://aceee.org/about/jobs/senior-research-analyst-local-policy

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Adding a new feather in my cap! Selected for the 2014 Vanguard Class!

March 11, 2014 at 5:01 pm

I’m truly humbled and honored to be selected for the Vanguard Class of 2014 heading to Chattanooga, TN during April 2014. What makes it extra special is that I’m one of the 40 emerging young leaders selected from a pool of 300 super-qualified applicants.

Hosted by Next City, this fifth annual Vanguard conference in Chattanooga, Tenn. is a gathering of the best and brightest young urban leaders working to improve cities across sectors, including urban planning, community development, entrepreneurship, government, transportation, sustainability, design, art and media. The conference will engage these professionals from around the country on series of presentations, workshops, tours and other activities over a period of three days.

Looking at the names and designations of others in my 2014 cohort, it is just beginning to sink in that this is a seriously big deal. The selectors have put a lot of faith in my potential for impact (Questions they asked during the evaluation process: will this person have their life changed by the conference? what can this person teach someone else from across the country? and will this person be leading the urban affairs field forward in 10 years?). The selection make me realize the challenges ahead and I’m determined to validate their faith in my abilities to deliver. My home town folks in India won’t even know what this means but it all started from that dusty corner of Southern India and I owe this to them.

Can’t wait to meet fellow 2014 classmates and get started on this new quest to reshape and redefine urban America. Below is the announcement posted on the Next City website.

Source URL : http://nextcity.org/daily/entry/announcing-the-2014-vanguard-class

Announcing the 2014 Vanguard Class

Chattanooga | 03/11/2014 7:00am | 0
DIANA LIND | NEXT CITY

Credit: Casey Yoshida, Cargo Collective

Next City has been hosting its annual Vanguard conference for five years and never before have we seen such a quantity of terrific candidates. (You can read more about the 300 applications we receivedhere.) Indeed, the growing demand for participation in Vanguard suggests that we need to find ways to expand future conferences beyond 40 attendees. As we begin thinking about the 2015 event, you can anticipate that we will broaden the participant pool.

We had to turn down so many young stars from around the country, and I can imagine many of them wondering why they weren’t picked. The selection process is more of an art than a science, but in a nutshell, our two guiding principles for choosing Vanguard participants are diversity (geography, ethnicity, profession, personal character) and potential for impact (will this person have their life changed by the conference? what can this person teach someone else from across the country? and will this person be leading the urban affairs field forward in 10 years?).

We have always sought to make Vanguard a conference for emerging leaders, and so even those applicants with enviable resumes weren’t necessarily our top picks. Likewise, we have been committed to linking cities across the U.S. While cities such as New York and San Francisco certainly boasted some of the highest-caliber candidates, we also recognize that there is talent from smaller cities that deserves to be connected with those coastal innovation hubs, too.

We’re proud to meet and connect with this outstanding group in Chattanooga in April. The 2014 Vanguard class, along with over a dozen Vanguard alumni, will meet for workshops, local tours and an “unconference” to collectively learn and think about how to improve our cities. The event is made possible with support from the Lyndhurst Foundation, the Benwood Foundation and the Footprint Foundation, and it is being curated with the help of a host committee made up of local civic innovators. Stay tuned to Next City (#Vanguard14) for live coverage from the conference and recaps afterward. And congrats to this year’s class!

VANGUARD CLASS OF 2014

Jamie Alderslade
Citi Community Development, Director of Policy, Research and Communications
Brooklyn, NY

Ian Beniston
Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corporation, Deputy Director
Youngstown, OH

John Bilderback
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Health Department, Step ONE Program Manager
Chattanooga, TN

Nick Bowden
MindMixer, CEO
Omaha, NE

Marlon I. Brown
Michigan State Budget Office, Budget and Policy Analyst
Mason, MI

Noah Budnick
Transportation Alternatives, Deputy Director
Brooklyn, NY

Demion Clinco
Tucson Historic Preservation Foundation, President
Tucson, AZ

Harmon L. Cooper
Sedgwick LLP, Associate
Bowie, MD

Rondell Crier
Rondell Crier Design, Owner
Chattanooga, TN

Melissa Dittmer
Rock Ventures, LLC, Architect
Detroit, MI

Amanda Eaken
Natural Resources Defense Council, Deputy Director of Sustainable Communities
San Francisco, CA

R. Denise Everson
DC Housing Authority, Redevelopment Project Specialist
Washington, DC

Lakweshia Ewing
Hamilton County Department of Education, District Coordinator Community Partnerships
Chattanooga, TN

Mike Field
JP Morgan Chase‎, Senior Analyst
Jacksonville, FL

Cristina Garmendia
OpportunitySpace, Co-founder
Allston, MA

Juan Gomez
California’s Boys and Men of Color Initiative, Statewide Advisor
Freedom, CA

Ashley Z. Hand
City of Kansas City, Chief Innovation Officer
Kansas City, MO

Brandon Holmes
Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Greater Peoria, Executive Director
Peoria, IL

Lisa Hook
The Asia Foundation, Senior Program Officer
San Francisco, CA

Christine Ingrassia
St. Louis City Board of Aldermen, 6th Ward Alderwoman
St. Louis, MO

Kiran Jain
City of Oakland, Senior Deputy City Attorney
Berkeley, CA

Milicent Johnson
Peers, Director of Partnerships and Community
San Francisco, CA

Maeghan Jones
Chattanooga Area Food Bank, President
Chattanooga, TN

Michael Kaufmann
Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Director of Special Projects and Civic Investment
Indianapolis, IN

Stephen Larrick
City of Central Falls, RI, Director of Planning and Economic Development
Providence, RI

Vanessa Leon
Pinchina Consulting, Founder
New York, NY

Adrian Michelle Lipscombe
City of Austin, Bike Share Coordinator
San Antonio, TX

Andrew Londre
Couleecap, Business and Income Developer
La Crosse, WI

Manasvi Menon
Parsons Brinckerhoff, Associate Consultant
Brooklyn, NY

Justin Garrett Moore, AICP
NYC Department of City Planning, Senior Urban Designer & City Planner
New York, NY

David Thomas Moran
Geo-social Photographer
Orlando, FL

Carlos Moreno
CAP Tulsa, Graphic Designer
Tulsa, OK

Ananda Palanisamy
Citizant, Inc., Senior Transportation Management Specialist
Rockville, MD

Jenny Park
Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency, Senior Planner
Chattanooga, TN

Maria Poblet
Causa Justa :: Just Cause, Executive Director
Oakland, CA

Sarah Ray
McKinsey & Company, Associate
Washington, DC

Lindsey Scannapieco
Scout, Director and Founder
London, UK

Peter Smith
U.S. Social Security Administration, Policy Advisor
Baltimore, MD

Boris Suchkov
MTA New York City Transit, Principal Transportation Planner
Staten Island, NY

Kim Szeto
Boston Public Schools, Farm to School Coordinator
Boston, MA

William Christopher Tate
TateSpace LLC, Founder and President
Paterson, NJ

Julie Ulrich
The Nature Conservancy, Urban Strategies + Watershed Coordinator
Philadelphia, PA

Alissa Walker
Gizmodo, Urbanism Editor
Los Angeles, CA

Jase Wilson
Neighbor.ly, CEO
Kansas City, MO

Katelyn Wright
Greater Syracuse Land Bank, Executive Director
Syracuse, NY

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Job Alert: Transportation Analyst – Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission @ Washington, DC

March 6, 2014 at 5:06 pm

The Northeast Corridor Commission

Congress created the Northeast Corridor Infrastructure and Operations Advisory Commission (Commission) to help coordinate planning and investment across all owners of and operators on the Northeast Corridor (NEC) railroad network, including Amtrak, states, commuter railroads, and freight railroads. The Commission is comprised of representatives from each of the NEC states, Amtrak, and the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), with non-voting representatives from freight railroads and states with connecting corridors. The Commission is supported by a full-time staff in Washington, DC. The Commission is accepting applications for a Transportation Analyst position located in Washington, DC.

English: Category:Images of railway stations

Photo credit: Wikipedia

Summary of Duties

Specific responsibilities will consist of policy research and writing, transportation planning and analysis, analysis of financial and operational data related to the allocation of operating and capital costs in the NEC, development of Commission products and materials, website content development and other tasks as assigned. The position will cover activities both technical and administrative in nature:

  • Assist in the development of Commission reports and presentations through data analysis and the development of written material. Work will frequently involve making technical information accessible for non-technical audiences.
  • Assist in the coordination of the Commission’s many stakeholders, including Amtrak, the U.S. DOT, the Northeast states and state DOTs, commuter rail agencies, freight railroads, and others. Work will frequently involve coordinating assistance provided by staff at various stakeholder agencies.
  • Support the organization and delivery of quarterly Commission meetings and periodic committee meetings including the management of pre-meeting logistics, the development of meeting materials, and the preparation of meeting minutes.
  • Assist in the analysis of financial and operational data in support of the Commission’s role in supporting cost allocation in the Northeast Corridor.

Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree in Transportation, Public Policy, Urban and Regional Planning, Economics, Business, or related field.
  • One to two years of work experience with some direct experience in the field of transportation. Masters degree may substitute for work experience.
  • Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
  • Interest in transportation issues.
  • Ability to multi-task effectively while remaining flexible in a fast-paced environment and work collaboratively with staff at all levels while successfully challenging conventional practices and incorporating new approaches.
  • Demonstrated skill in Microsoft Office tools, including Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.

Contact

For information on applying, contact Donnie Maley, Director, Planning: dmaley@nec-commission.com.

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Infographic: The Truth About Idling A Vehicle – 3.8 Million Gallons of Fuel Wasted by Idling in the U.S. EVERY DAY!

March 6, 2014 at 5:03 pm

Sustainable America via Upworthy

Oh, boy.  What looks like a seemingly insignificant activity – vehicle idling – has a major impact on our economy and on our planet’s well being.  Check out this informative infograph from Sustainable America that shows the gargantuan impacts of vehicle idling in the USA, both  economic and environmental.  If the US alone is wasting so much fuel and adding to the carbon footprint, I can’t even begin to fathom what’s happening if this issue is scaled up at a global level. Adoption of EVs can quickly put an end to this issue and should be considered as part of energy efficiency/conservation programs world wide. Take the pledge to stop idling

Image: Sustainable America via Upworthy.com

Image: Sustainable America via Upworthy.com

 

Call for Papers – 1st International Road Federation (IRF) Asia Regional Congress – Oct. 27-29, 2014 @ Bali, Indonesia

February 26, 2014 at 6:13 pm

Image Courtesy: IRFnew.org

On behalf of the International Road Federation (IRF) and the Indonesia Ministry of Public Works, the Technical and Scientific Committee of the 1st IRF Asia Regional Congress & Exhibition invites surface transportation experts and researchers from around the world to submit paper abstracts for evaluation.

Under the theme “Building the Trans-Asian Highway,” this one-of-a-kind event will provide a unique setting for sharing proven and innovative solutions for the region’s mobility demands, latest industry technologies and global best practices and how they can be replicated and/or modified to meet the region’s specific needs.

The event will feature a Ministerial Session, as well as Plenary, Executive, Technical and Applied Knowledge Sessions.

Why Participate?

  • High level Ministerial Session
  • 1,000 local & International delegates
  • Innovation forum & live technical demonstrations
  • Networks with key decision makers from the region
  • Exhibition featuring the latest products & technologies

Abstract Guidelines (no cost to submit)

The abstract should be written in English, readily understandable to most readers and may contain a maximum of 200 words. Abstracts should be submitted in the following thematic areas:

  • Asset Management
  • Disaster Mitigation & Recovery
  • Pavements & Materials
  • Road Financing / PPPs
  • Road Safety
  • Sustainable Transport
  • Technology & Innovation
The deadline for submissions is May 2, 2014
To submit an abstract, click here 

For more information, please contact:

Magid Elabyad
Vice President, International Programs & Member Services
Tel: +1 703 535 1001
Email: melabyad@IRFnews.org

For information about the congress, visit the event website.  Scroll below to view the Preliminary Program .
[gview file=”https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-9pZ0X5J8D7T0Faa0hnSlRtX1E/edit?usp=sharing” save=”1″]

Are you listening, Transportation Planners? Tesla Motors’ CEO Elon Musk says we are only few years from autonomous driving

February 19, 2014 at 7:54 pm

via Bloomberg TV

Tesla Motors CEO Elon Musk discusses autonomous driving and how it will be available in cars in only a few years. He is confident that Tesla has the best collection of experts and would be the first company to launch a vehicle with significant ‘auto pilot” capabilities. As far as proliferation goes, Mr. Musk says we may be about 10 years away from widespread adoption of autonomous vehicle technology. Do you agree? Listen to his interview with Bloomberg Television.

Training Opportunity: Register for Eno Center’s Public Private Partnership Training Course

February 13, 2014 at 8:01 am
Use Code  “Transportgooru” and receive a $150 discount during registration.
 
The Eno Center for Transportation has developed a new training course titled Partnering with the Private Sector.  This online course is 40 hours long, and is delivered over a four week span beginning on March 10th. Despite being entirely online, students interact with others, including course mentors/instructors Roy Kienitz and Dr. Michael Meyer.  Students “learn by doing,” and take on the role of a P3 project manager.  After learning the basics of P3s, students are given exercises in developing project scope and managing the work of private sector partners.  This course is appropriate for mid and senior level professionals, and provides Professional Engineers with 40 PDH (other types of professional education credit may be available).
Registration:  

The course fee is $3,000.  To register, click hereUse Code  “Transportgooru” and receive a $150 discount during registration. 

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, February 26

For more information and registration, visit: https://www.enotrans.org/course/p3
Instruction Method and Mentors
This course is conducted online, but features interactivity with other students and course mentors.  Eno developed a course portal that houses all course content.  To see how our online portal works, please click here.  Students in this course learn by doing.  After learning the basics of P3s, students complete mock assignments leading to the delivery of a P3 project.The learning experience is enhanced by two qualified course mentors:Roy Kienitz, Principal of Roy Keinitz LLC, is the former Under Secretary for Policy at the United States Department of Transportation. He also served as former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell’s Deputy Chief of Staff. Currently Mr. Keinitz works on major project development and implementation strategies, drawing on his diverse transportation policy experience.Dr. Michael D. Meyer is a consultant with Parsons Brinckerhoff. Prior to this position he was a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He also served as Director of Transportation Planning and Development for Massachusetts where he was responsible for statewide planning, project development, traffic engineering, and transportation research.

Who Should Attend
A wide variety of individuals should consider signing up for the course, including: Mid- to senior level professionals and State/City Departments of Transportation, transit agencies, metropolitan planning organizations, and local governments; Federal employees involved in P3s for transportation; and Professionals from the private sector who assist public sector agencies implementing P3s.

Professional Development Hours
Through the course students will be able to earn up to 40 Pofessional Development Hours (PDH). Other types of professional education may be available. To inquire contact Alex Bond, abond@enotrans.org or 202-879-4714.

Course Dates and Schedule
The course will run from March 10 through April 4. Each week has a distinct lesson plan and assignments, although most course activities are flexible or available on-demand. Students should be prepared to devote 8-12 hours per week to course activities.  To see examples of how students receive course material, view these screen captures.

Future Course Offerings
This course will be offered 4-5 times each year. To learn more about future course offerings please contact Alex Bond at 202-879-4714 or abond@enotrans.org

Q: What previous experience do I need to take this course?
A: This course is intended for established transportation professionals who want to expand their knowledge on P3s. No prior experience with P3s is required. However, the course assumes a moderate level of knowledge of transportation systems.

Q: Is this course only about toll roads?
A: This course was designed to be multimodal.

Q: What do I receive upon completion of the course?
A: You will receive a certificate of completion. In addition, your course fee provides you with one year of individual regular membership to the Eno Center (up to a $200 value). Licensed Professional Engineers will receive forty Professional Development Units (PDU). If you are interested in another type of continuing education credit, such as AICP-CM or IACET Continuing Education Units (CEU), please contact Alex Bond at 202-879-4714 or abond@enotrans.org. Eno is in the process of partnering with other organizations that offer P3 professional credentials. All students who have taken the course will be eligible for any credentials established in the future. For more information on P3 credentialing, visit the Institute for Public Private Partnerships.

Q: How much time per week is needed to complete the course? Are times flexible?
A: The course is designed to be flexible, but also keep you on task. You should expect to spend ten hours per week on the course. There are weekly topics and assignments that you are expected to complete. Only an hour or two per week are on a fixed schedule. The remainder will be spent viewing on-demand recorded content, interacting with the course mentors, reading at your own pace, and preparing assignments for review.

Q: What if I need help?
A: Course mentors are available by phone, video chat, and email to provide you as much assistance and advice as you need. They are available by email at any time. You will have tools available to reserve appointment times for deeper discussion with the mentors.

Q: What if I get too busy and cannot complete the course?
A: If you find that you cannot continue, please notify the mentors and CTL staff.  In certain circumstances, extensions can be granted, particularly in the final week of the course. Eno is not able to offer refunds. However, you can enroll in another offering of the course at a later date (the course if offered 4-5 times per year) on a space-available basis.  When re-enrolling, you may be required to begin the course from the start

Q: Why is this course offered online, and over such a long time frame?
A: By offering the course online, you will not incur travel expenses and disruptions to your daily routine.  By offering it over a four-week span, you will be able to keep up with most of your regular work duties. In the future, a compressed version of the course may be offered. Please let us know if you are interested in this type of class. 

Video: How Many Americans Want to Live in a Driverless-City? Intel’s Futurist Discusses Future of Driverless Cars and Cities

February 12, 2014 at 5:50 pm

(Source: Bloomberg)

Intel Futurist Steve Brown discusses the future of driverless cars and cities on Bloomberg Television’s “Bloomberg West.” Transportation and City planners better start thinking already because we know your long-range plans drafted a decade or so ago is rendered useless by the fast paced evolution of computing and automobile technology (agree with Steve that the technology is coming but it may be more than a decade away). It is time to think different and act fast!

Tampa, Florida Gets Federal Approval For Autonomous Vehicle Test Bed

February 10, 2014 at 8:30 am

via WTSP.com

The city of Tampa (Florida) gains a Federally-approved test bed for autonomous vehicles.. Local TV station News 10 offers the following scoop:

The Selmon Expressway just got a big approval from the federal government. It’s now one of only ten roads in America set up to test “connected cars,” leading to totally driverless cars. The Selmon’s elevated express lanes to Brandon are a car designer’s dream. During traffic downtimes, engineers can block off all of the entrances and have the whole highway as a ten-mile-long laboratory. The expressway authority that runs the Selmon will team up with a USF group, the Center for Urban Transportation Research, to find companies that want to come here to test their technology. Click here to learn more

 

Infograph: Breaking the myth! Bicyclists not only pay more than their share of road costs, but save everyone money whenever they ride

February 8, 2014 at 12:06 pm

via Oregon Bicycle Transportation Alliance

If you ever hear someone say that bicyclists get a “free ride”, share this infograph below that explains why people on bikes not only pay more than their share of road costs, but save everyone money whenever they ride.

Image courtesy: btaoregon.org