Jeff Ward
WCMAC Coastal Energy Seat
Jeff worked as the Senior Program Manager for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Sequim for over twenty eight years. He now owns his own consulting firm that specializes in environmental program design, implementation, and management. Jeff is a member of the Northwest Straits Commission, Northwest Straits Foundation, and Clallam County Marine Resources Committee. He has a vast understanding of the energy industry and the stages of permitting potential projects. Jeff is an experienced program manager and excellent representative on the WCMAC.
What does Marine Spatial Planning mean to you?
I see the MSP process as an opportunity for a variety of folks representing different stakeholder groups and interests to work collaboratively to plan for the future. The process has encouraged people to think about what is important to them, appreciate differences of opinion, and do their best to balance socioeconomic, environmental, and cultural needs to make the best possible decisions.
How did you get involved and why are you involved in the planning process?
During my final years at PNNL, I managed two projects for the US Department of Energy with direct relevance to the MSP process. The first investigated how ocean energy development and deployment might affect environmental resources in the ocean and estuaries; the second involved procuring two oceanographic buoys designed to accurately measure offshore wind speeds up to 100 meters above the ocean, and working with local, State, and Federal organizations to obtain permits for their deployment. Given this experience, I was a good fit for one of the two energy seats on WCMAC, and I was lucky enough to be appointed by the Governor.
What do you hope the WCMAC can accomplish with the Washington Marine Spatial Plan?
I hope we can create a living document that will be used for many years to plan for growth without sacrificing the unique characteristics of the coast that we cherish and appreciate. I think the best possible outcome will be if all of us help develop a process that provides a framework for decision-making that is science-based and inclusive, and that clearly describes the potential tradeoffs of one course of action versus another.
Anything else interesting about you?
Although Sequim is a long drive to the outer coast, I have always felt connected to the ocean, and made my living on or in the water for over three decades. With the exception of woodworking, my hobbies are mostly outdoor things (hiking, biking, kayaking, surfing). My wife and I have raised a blended family of five kids (all adults now and out of the house, thank God) that deeply appreciate nature and have a lot of fun from the mountains to the sea!