2026 Roger E. Koontz Fellow in Law and Climate Policy
About The Position
Acadia Center is seeking motivated law and policy students to apply for its Roger E. Koontz Fellowship in Law and Climate Policy. The Koontz Fellow will work with Acadia Center staff – policy experts, researchers, attorneys, and communications professionals– on projects that directly impact the organization's work. Depending on the work, the Fellow may have the opportunity to meet with policymakers, attend public meetings, and engage in coalition interactions. Projects will be assigned based on skills and interests and could include the following: Clean Energy and Community Engagement. Scoping issues for legal and policy review related to community and stakeholder engagement in the anticipated expansion of the region’s clean energy projects, power grid, and transmission, such as a review of the adequacy of current permitting processes to seek and engage community-level input. Energy Regulatory System Reform:. Researching legal issues and policy solutions on issues involving the need to reform approaches to regional power grid and state-level utility planning, financing, and governance so that it advances clean energy, climate, consumer, and energy justice goals. Building Energy and Energy Justice:. Using legal analysis and data to advance organizational initiatives on energy efficiency and building decarbonization to understand better the connections between energy equity and environmental justice issues and develop policy recommendations for housing and transportation/mobility. Legislative/Statutory Analysis: For example, examining state laws to assess agencies’ existing authority to advance policies to cap GHG emissions and trade emissions allowances. Regulatory Intervention Support: In policy dockets, rate cases, and other adjudicated proceedings before Public Utilities Commissions (PUC), provide legal support for ongoing regulatory interventions through discovery, interrogatory requests, testimony drafting, and more. Energy contract and procurement legal analysis and advocacy: in regional settings, such as multi-state procurements for offshore wind, or regional procurements for public policy transmission upgrades, help Acadia Center dissect and understand provisions of RFPs, contracts, and ISO-NE tariffs filed before FERC for their impact on costs, reliability, emissions reductions, equity, and beyond. The position will also provide the opportunity to gain exposure to and understanding of climate and clean energy issues by drafting public comments, policy memos, or explanatory outreach materials, attending webinars, coalition meetings, and meeting with government officials and other stakeholder groups are aspects of our work that are available to gain exposure and understanding of climate and clean energy issues.
Requirements
- A strong interest in environmental, energy, or climate law and policy.
- An interest in the application of data, consumer, health, and equity analyses to law and policy.
- Interest in the role of electric and gas utilities, energy efficiency and other clean energy programs, public policy, community, state, and regional engagement, electric and gas utilities, buildings, and transportation energy use.
- Self-guided literature research, legal/docket research, conducting interviews, and preparing summaries.
- MPP/MPA candidates are welcome to apply if they possess relevant legal experience.
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge of social media and digital media best practices is helpful.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Intern
Education Level
No Education Listed
Number of Employees
11-50 employees
