Access to modern energy services, including efficient usage, is essential to realize 20th century, let alone 21st century, living standards worldwide. Meanwhile, a transition from inefficient use of fossil fuels to a clean, efficient energy system is key to mitigating urgent environmental, economic and security risks, including global climate change. Achieving the sustainable energy transition was identified by the United Nations as a “transformational challenge” for our generation.

Addressing this grand challenge requires an interdisciplinary approach that provides both breadth and depth, with a practical toolkit of technical and analytic skills in a context of system-level thinking and understanding. The IES builds on WWU core strengths in collaborative, experiential learning, involving undergraduates in research and community engagement, working closely with practitioners in the local community to study and execute clean energy projects and programs. We take a practical approach, using the campus and community as our laboratory for hands-on learning, while collaborating with cities, utilities and energy firms in the region.

Since our first three students earned the Energy Policy minor in 2013, we have graduated 284 students with majors, minors, and certificates. Of those, 92 have completed the BA or BS, and roughly 70 of whom are meaningfully employed in the following energy roles.