Event Details
When:
Thu, Mar 5, 2026, 4:30pm - 5:20pm
Location:
Online: Zoom
In-Person at WWU:
Academic West 204
Price:
Free
Brought to you by:
Salish Sea Institute, College of the Environment, The Foundation for WWU & Alumni
Description
Washington State’s Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA)—one of the most ambitious pieces of climate legislation in the country—passed in 2019 and set the trajectory to decarbonize the state’s electricity supply by 2045. As Washington’s oldest and largest utility, PSE is now working to implement this transformation through acquisition of renewable energy at an unprecedented scale and pace. Having achieved the first benchmark of eliminating coal from their electric portfolio at the end of 2025, PSE continues to work with customers, emerging technologies, and communities throughout the region to reach upcoming milestones. In this presentation, Liz Purdy will outline the policies, projects, and opportunities that are building toward this clean energy future.
The Environmental Speaker Series is free and open to the public. Talks are held each Thursday at 4:30pm in Academic Instructional Center West, room 204. Join us at WWU or online on Zoom!
Featuring:
Liz Purdy is the Community Affairs Manager at Puget Sound Energy (PSE). She has worked at PSE since 2021, focusing on community partnerships to drive solutions for the clean energy transition. She holds a Masters in Sustainable Development from SIT Graduate Institute and is a proud alum of Gonzaga University. Liz brings her creative problem-solving, critical thinking, and listening ear to navigate the complex intersection of our environment, economics, policy, and culture—and how it all shows up throughout our PNW communities. Past experiences working for nonprofits and local government have guided her understanding of what successful public-private collaboration entails. Her prior work in Alaska and Montana took her on fishing vessels in Bristol Bay, rivers in Southeast Alaska, and exploring public lands throughout Greater Yellowstone. Back at home in the Northwest, she strives to get outside each day to soak up the beauty around us.
Questions and Accommodations
- Your point of contact for this event is The Foundation for WWU & Alumni. Call (360) 650-3353 or email Alumni@wwu.edu.
- Advance notice for disability accommodations and special needs is appreciated. Please mention your needs when registering.
- There will be auto-captions for the Zoom webinar.
Visitor Parking at WWU on Weekdays
- Mon-Fri, 7:00am-4:30pm: limited paid parking is available at the south C lots and north 6V and 7G lots.
- Purchase your permit at the lot pay stations or use the Parkmobile app.
- More parking details for campus visitors are available online.
Parking at WWU on Weekdays for Visitors with Disabilities
- Mon-Fri, 7:00am-4:30pm: both a WWU permit and state disability placard are needed.
- Purchase your permit at the pay stations in lot C or 6V or use the Parkmobile app (use Zone 1200). This allows parking in any disability space. If these are full, you can use a non-reserved space nearby.
- More parking details for campus visitors with disabilities are available online.
The views expressed by our speakers do not necessarily reflect those of Western Washington University.
