New York is leading the nation in the fight on global climate change and the transition to a clean energy-powered economy. With the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New York has codified the most aggressive climate change policy in the nation with goals to reach zero carbon emissions in the electricity sector by 2040; install 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035; 6 gigawatts of solar by 2025; and 3 gigawatts of energy storage by 2030. Additionally, the law creates the Climate Action Council comprised of the leaders of various state agencies and authorities as well as legislative appointments to develop a plan outlining how the state will achieve an 85% reduction in GHG emissions from 1990 levels by 2050, and eventually net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy.

Achievement of the energy, environmental, and climate justice objectives of the Climate Act will require all communities to be actively engaged in the clean energy transition, including residents and communities that have traditionally faced barriers to participating in or otherwise benefitting from New York’s emerging clean energy economy.

This is a paid internship for current, full-time college students. The pay rate is from $15 to $17 per hour based on current class year. This internship will begin in the Spring 2023 semester and continue to Winter 2024.

Interns must be located in New York State while working. It is expected that interns will follow our telework policy, with a combination of in-office and remote work. Interns work up to 18.5 hours per week during the semester, and 37.5 hours per week between semesters, when not attending classes.

NYSERDA is standing up a multifaceted statewide Energy Equity Collaborative with the goal of creating a forum to partner with disadvantaged communities to elevate energy and climate equity issues in New York State and align on best opportunities to inform and collaborate on initiative development. NYSERDA will be leading this effort in collaboration with a Founding Steering Committee comprised of community organizations that serve or represent historically marginalized communities.

NYSERDA is also jointly leading implementation of the Extreme Heat Action Plan 📷  to address more frequent and intense extreme heat events driven by climate change and to mitigate the disproportionate impacts faced by disadvantaged communities. The plan is being developed in collaboration with frontline communities. It will involve creating an adaptation plan to address the structural drivers of extreme heat inequities. It will also include a comprehensive State emergency response plan, and an analysis of how State investments, programs and initiatives will target and benefit heat-vulnerable disadvantaged communities.

Primary Responsibilities

• Coordinate between NYSERDA program and support teams on various tasks/initiatives associated with the development of the state’s Extreme Heat Action Plan and the Energy Equity Collaborative.
• Support development of community outreach and related materials such as scheduling and taking notes during meetings with community partners.
• Program and policy research and writing on best practices for mitigating extreme heat impacts, facilitating community advisory panels, and engagement with specific communities within historically marginalized communities (e.g., Indigenous communities).
• Perform administrative and other functions necessary to support the implementation of new engagement efforts focused on engaging disadvantaged communities in extreme heat action planning and through the Energy Equity Collaborative.
• Perform other responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Current, full-time college student.
• Strong listening, verbal and writing skills to effectively communicate with a diverse group of individuals and stakeholders and ability to document and synthesize comments received.
• Demonstrated ability to research primary and secondary sources.
• Skills in managing multiple tasks/activities, meeting project timelines and delivering on commitments, adapting to changing priorities and operating with speed, accuracy, and contribution of one’s own perspectives.
• Strong work ethic, organizational, time-management skills, and ability to work independently, both in-office and remotely.
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite of programs and ability to produce and deliver reports, presentations, and other documents.
• Enthusiasm for and eagerness to learn about energy issues as they relate to the quality of life for residents of New York State’s disadvantaged communities.
• Salesforce Customer Relationship Management (CRM) experience is a plus.
• Proficiency in other languages is a plus.

To Apply

Please submit one file that includes both your cover letter and resume. For more information, please visit NYSERDA's career's page.