Clean Energy Policy Internship
Western Resource Advocates (WRA) is seeking a curious and driven individual to join our Clean Energy Team this Summer as a Clean Energy Policy Intern. This position will offer the opportunity to work directly on pressing energy issues in Colorado and with professionals at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, and within the energy and environmental community. The Clean Energy Policy Intern will report to Managing Senior Policy Advisor, with opportunities to learn and grow while working with other conservation and policy professionals.
The Interior West is rich with people from diverse ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Yet, despite this, “minorities comprise just 12% of staff of both U.S. government environmental agencies and nongovernmental environmental organizations.” Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian, multi-racial and bi-racial individuals express concern for the environment at a higher rate than White people, but ultimately don’t see themselves or the issues that impact their lives reflected. In addition to the environmental movement historically having a lack of racial diversity, the LGBTQIA+ community, low income communities, and people with disabilities have historically experienced disproportionate barriers to equal access to outdoor spaces and recreational opportunities.
The Pathfinder Internship Program is a step in creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive conservation workforce that represents all people. WRA is especially excited about these opportunities, as it will support individuals who have historically not been included in conservation work. WRA is partnering with the Robertson family to offer the David Robertson Pathfinder Internship Program to share the wonders of the unparalleled landscapes, captivating wildlife, and diverse communities in the West with professionals gaining experience in the conservation field.
This position can work remotely, from one of offices, or a hybrid of the two. WRA has offices in Boulder, CO; Carson City, NV; Denver, CO; Phoenix, AZ; Salt Lake City, UT; and Santa Fe, NM. The manager of this internship is based in Boulder, CO. For fully remote candidates, they may be based anywhere in the United States, as long as they are available during our regular Colorado office hours.
RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACTIVITIES
- Conduct policy research and write memos, presentations, blog posts or reports on varied subjects associated with WRA’s clean energy policy work in Colorado.
- Conduct research and analysis as requested for a variety of ongoing Public Utilities Commission litigated and rulemaking proceedings, including on existing or proposed programs, regulations and policies that impact WRA’s mission and its work advancing clean energy and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
- Accompany staff on advocacy meetings, stakeholder engagement activities, and other related activities as appropriate.
- Present findings to WRA staff and partners at other organizations as appropriate as a presentation, white paper or blog posts.
Potential projects might include:
- Research program examples and best practices for Income Qualified renewable energy, energy efficiency, and beneficial electrification customer-facing incentive programs in Colorado. Includes consideration of equitable access to direct benefits, program scale, target-setting, and administrative issues.
- Identify and assess approaches to structuring utility incentives across different types of programs and planning processes designed to encourage and reward utilities for advancing emissions reductions, energy efficiency, clean energy program customer participation, and expansion of renewable energy investment and utilization.
- Investigate alternative policy pathways for decarbonization of buildings, and propose key elements for a model utility Clean Heat Plan to reduce direct combustion of fossil fuels for building end uses.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Excellent writing skills, equivalent to a graduate school level.
- Excellent verbal communicator.
- Research and analytic skills, including familiarity with Excel spreadsheets.
- Motivated to take ownership of projects and demonstrate follow-through to complete tasks.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Interest in exploring clean energy policy analysis and advocacy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Interest in understanding how energy policy decisions are made at the state level.
ADDITIONAL SKILLS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
This section is made up of skills that a candidate may come in with. They are not required and candidates who do not possess these skills yet, should not be discouraged from applying, and will be taught on the job.
- Knowledge about clean energy policy, electricity emissions sources and climate change issues relating to the electric sector.
- Analytic skills from Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (e.g., statistics, economics) or logic/philosophy.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
COMPENSATION
Interns are paid at $15.00 per hour. This is a full-time internship with an expectation to work 40 hours a week for approximately 10 weeks. WRA regularly works with students to help them obtain school credit for their internships. Since this is a temporary internship position, interns are not eligible for any benefits, including, but not limited to: vacation and sick leave; health, vision, and dental insurance; life, short-, and long-term disability insurance; and the 401(k) retirement plan. WRA is happy to loan interns a laptop for the duration of their internship.
TIMELINE
The internship will take place during the Summer of 2022. While the specific dates are flexible, the start date will be around June 1, 2022 and will go through early August 2022.