May Newsletter
Peter Moulton named first Harvesting Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator

The Harvesting Clean Energy Network now has its first full-time staff person. Peter Moulton was recently named by Climate Solutions as Harvesting Clean Energy Outreach Coordinator.

Moulton will oversee growth and development of the Network, and will become editor of the Harvesting Clean Energy Bulletin and the Harvest Clean Energy website. He will also coordinate Climate Solutions contributions to the Our Wind Co-op, an effort to site small-scale wind turbines on rural sites.

"I am excited to have a chance to work directly with all the dedicated, creative and friendly folks at Climate Solutions," Moulton said. "The need for innovative approaches to regional energy challenges has never been greater, and the capacity rural areas have to grow new clean energy crops links these challenges to tremendous economic opportunities. This is truly a win-win for all Northwesterners."

The Harvesting Clean Energy program aims to build clean energy production as a new rural economic opportunity for the Northwest. It was initiated by Climate Solutions with a January 2001 Harvesting Clean Energy conference in Spokane, the first of what has become an annual conference series. The most recent took place in Boise in February. The effort, which also includes an Action Plan for rural clean energy development, has now grown to the extent that it requires a full time coordinator.

Previously Moulton served as senior staff for the Nisqually River Management Program for more than a decade. He was responsible for overseeing intergovernmental coordination and public involvement in the collaborative management of a half-million-acre watershed stretching from Mount Rainier to Puget Sound. Among the program's achievements were creation of a new state park, funding for a municipal treatment plant featuring complete wastewater reuse, extensive salmon recovery work and a popular annual watershed festival. The program was awarded the 1995 Environmental Excellence by the Washington State Ecological Commission.

Moulton has been major contributor to the Olympia community over the past 20 years. After graduating from The Evergreen State College in 1983 with a degree in Communications and Management, he helped establish and lead a wide variety of nonprofit community groups. He co-founded the Olympia Film Festival in 1984, and later served as President of its parent organization, the Olympia Film Society. During his tenure OFS grew to become the second largest membership-driven arts organization in Washington State. He also served as first President and General Manager for Thurston Community Television, which provides the only public, educational and governmental television programming in the Olympia area.

He can be reached at peter@climatesolutions.org.