Affordable Clean Energy Policy Intern - Remote, US

Energy Solutions Internships

21h • Remote

About The Position

Interested in joining a growing company where you will work with talented colleagues, enhance a supportive and energetic culture, and be part of the climate solution? At Energy Solutions, we focus on the big impacts. And we believe that market-based programs can be a powerful force to deliver large-scale energy, carbon, and water-use savings. Since 1995, we’ve harnessed that power to offer proven, performance-based solutions for our utility, government, and institutional customers.
Climate-driven events such as wildfires, floods, hurricanes, and severe storms—combined with rapid planned electrification of transportation, buildings, and industry—are driving significant new investments in electric grid infrastructure. The Affordable Clean Energy Policy Internship will provide you a hands-on experience at the intersection of energy policy, electrification, grid modernization, and affordability. This internship focuses on how to decarbonize the electric grid and electrify major energy end uses while controlling or reducing electricity costs for consumers and businesses. In this role, you will explore how beneficial electrification, demand-side management, and load flexibility can improve grid utilization, reduce fixed costs per kilowatt-hour, and ultimately lower customer rates.
You will work under the guidance of and in collaboration with senior policy experts in clean energy and decarbonization to create a survey of analysis work done to date. In addition, you will create and author high-level/back-of-the-envelope models to sanity check claims of the efficacy of electrification strategies to address affordability. Finally, you will estimate the magnitude of impacts from full electrification in different sectors. Ideally, an outcome of this work is a published white paper and conference paper and presentation.
In this role, you will gain or deepen knowledge of:
Electrification and Load Growth Analysis
Electric Rates and Affordability
Demand-Side Management and Load Flexibility
Grid Infrastructure and Non-Wires Alternatives
Your deliverables will include:
A research-based whitepaper on electrification, grid costs, and affordability
Summary tables and figures quantifying costs and savings of avoided infrastructure and demand-side management
An executive summary for policymakers and stakeholders including recommendations for next steps to optimize the grid
A presentation summarizing the paper’s findings
As a result of this experience, you will:
Possess hands-on experience in clean energy policy research
Understand electrification impacts on grid planning and rates
Produce professional research and writing sample

Requirements

• Undergraduate student pursuing a degree in clean energy policy, science, engineering, economics, or related field
• Strong research, analytical, and writing skills
• Interest in clean energy, electrification, and utility regulation
• Currently enrolled full- or part-time in an undergraduate program as a second to fourth-year student or enrolled in a graduate program
• Please note we are unable to accept applications from first-year undergraduate students or recent graduates who are not enrolled in a program
• A US Citizen or permanent resident
• Please note we are unable to host international students
• Available to meet your weekly hours requirement between May and August for Summer and between September and November for Fall
• Motivated by the Energy Solutions’ mission to reduce carbon emissions with an equity lens

Responsibilities

• Create a survey of analysis work done to date.
• Create and author high-level/back-of-the-envelope models to sanity check claims of the efficacy of electrification strategies to address affordability.
• Estimate the magnitude of impacts from full electrification in different sectors.
• Create a research-based whitepaper on electrification, grid costs, and affordability
• Create summary tables and figures quantifying costs and savings of avoided infrastructure and demand-side management
• Create an executive summary for policymakers and stakeholders including recommendations for next steps to optimize the grid
• Create a presentation summarizing the paper’s findings

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees