Terms of Reference

Background:
In January 2010, a Renewable Energy Subcommittee (RES) of the Energy Committee (EC) was formed. The RES and EC worked collaboratively and effectively. In 2012, when the Commission on the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise (CWWCE) identified the need to revise to the structure of the CWWCE and its component Boards and Committees, it was determined that the RES should be converted to a full Committee. All agreed that the close and productive collaboration of the EC and the new Renewable Energy Committee was necessary to maintain. In their respective new Terms of Reference documents, the structures of the two Committees include details about how the two Committees will maintain their effective working relationships.

Purpose:
Promote intelligent integration of weather, climate, and atmospheric science on the siting, performance, and reliability of renewable energy sources by closely interacting with the renewable energy industry toward the mutual benefit of all parties.

Goals:
Primary Goal of REC: To bring together the weather, climate, and energy communities to facilitate dialog about the respective needs and responsibilities of the public, private, and academic sectors in providing the environmental sciences data, including atmospheric, oceanic, coastal, solar and hydrologic, information, and services required for the increased use of renewable energy in the nation.

Secondary Goal of REC: To encourage the education and development of the future pool of workers (employees) to support the renewable energy community, broadly constituted.

Activities: The Renewable Energy Committee will develop and participate in the following activities:

  • Provide venues for the weather, climate, and renewable energy communities to meet and discuss topics of mutual interest
  • Identify opportunities for the weather, climate, and renewable energy communities to interact (e.g., weather, climate, and energy industry conferences, workshops, and symposi
  • Facilitate dialog between the climate and weather enterprise and the renewable energy industry
  • Act as a source of scientific information about weather, climate, and atmospheric sciences and their importance for the renewable energy community, including:
    • Their impact on the siting, performance, and reliability of renewable energy sources
    • The forecasting and observation of relevant weather, climate and atmospheric conditions

Committee Structure:
The Renewable Energy Committee will be structured as follows:

  • The Renewable Energy Committee will be a permanent standing Committee, reporting to the Board on Global Strategies (BGS).
  • The Renewable Energy Committee will consist of six (6) to fifteen (15) members including a Chair.
  • Membership nominally will consist of three (3) year terms with 1/3 rotating off the committee each year.
  • Membership terms will begin each year at the AMS Annual Meeting.
  • Membership shall represent the three (3) community sectors (e.g., private, government, and academic)
  • Candidate Committee members will be nominated by the Renewable Energy Committee Chair and approved by the BGS Chair and the Commissioner of the CWWCE
  • At the discretion of the Committee Chair and with consultation and approval of the BGS Chair and the Commissioner of the CWWCE:
    o Membership terms may be shorter than three (3) years or extended beyond three (3) years
    o Membership representation may temporarily include fewer than all three (3) community sectors
  • At the option of the committee Chair, the BGS Chair and the Commissioner of the CWWCE, a Committee member who does not participate in Committee activities for a period of twelve or more months can be removed and a replacement named
  • The Chair, shall be an ex officio member of the BGS
  • The Energy Committee will work with the Renewable Energy Committee (REC) on the organization and planning of the Conference on the Weather, Climate and New Energy Economy held at the AMS Annual Meeting.
    • The Program chair responsibility will be shared by the EC and REC (minimum of 2 Co-Chairs is recommended)
    • Both Committees will have input into the call for papers, and will be responsible for helping to encourage members of academia, government, and the private sector to submit abstracts
  • The two Committees will work to make sure that the Conference on the Weather, Climate, and New Energy Economy provides content for both the renewable and traditional energy sectors. Two members of the EC Committee will sit in on meetings of the Renewable Energy Committee in order to ensure open dialog and joint efforts (where appropriate) between the Committees.