State and local governments, tribal governments and nonprofit organizations, per RCW 28B.30.903.

Most of the Consortium's partnerships with entities that are ineligible for membership involve the leadership development and educational components of the program's services, including:

• Sponsorship of the annual Energy/Facilities Connections Conference.
• Sponsorship of the other Consortium-hosted webinars or training workshops.
• Submission of a speaker and topic to be considered for Consortium-hosted training events.
• Submission of a training video demonstrating a specific technology, facilities practice, or other relevant topic. (Note: Videos must focus on education, not sales.)

Membership fees are based on a sliding scale dependent on the size of the organization. Typically, larger organizations pay more than smaller organizations. The larger the organization, the more opportunity there is for that organization to submit service and support requests.

Factors reviewed to determine membership fees include:

• Total square footage of buildings controlled by the perspective member.
• Total number of campuses or locations.
• Number of full-time facilities employees.

Please see the Consortium's Menu of Services for a list of the most popular offerings.

Absolutely. The Consortium is first and foremost a support program for facilities professionals, of which energy happens to be a component. Please see the program's Menu of Services for other offerings.

Our work is guided by your needs. Just send us an email or call us to let us know what you need assistance with – there is no formal process when contacting Consortium staff.

When reviewing the program's Menu of Services, remember that it is simply a list of the most commonly used services developed over time, based on recurring needs of members. Think about your organization’s specific needs. Even if your need does not relate closely to facilities, we are here to help you meet the challenges you have been tasked to resolve.

Not at all. The Consortium is a not-for-profit organization, meaning that our goal is to sustain the organization while bringing as much value as possible to your operations. We are not affiliated with any particular product, and can act as a third-party ombudsman when supporting your organization. If we identify opportunities that we think might fit your needs or situation, we may present them to you as options. We also may check in with you now and again if we have not heard from you in a while, but we will never try to push products or services on you.

The WSU Energy Program Plant Operations Support Consortium is located at: 905 Plum Street SE, Olympia, WA, 98504.

The Plant Operations Support Consortium has been in operation since 1995, when it began as a pilot program within the Washington State Department of General Administration. Our program was then signed into law in early 1996.

In December 2007, the program co-located with the WSU Energy Program because the two organizations share a similar mission and approach to serving clients. In 2010, the Consortium fully merged with the WSU Energy Program, where we can leverage the professional capabilities offered by over 100 WSU Energy Program staff to help address the needs of Consortium members and affiliates.

There is no catch. The Consortium just requires that its members “push” their needs; members receive optimal value for their membership when they actively communicate their needs to Consortium staff.