New York is leading the nation in the fight on global climate change and the transition to a clean energy-powered economy. The Climate Act (https://climate.ny.gov/) has created the most aggressive climate change goals in the nation and requires an ambitious agenda that blends proven catalysts with innovative approaches while operating across a broader energy arena that is rapidly evolving. New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a driving force in realizing this agenda. NYSERDA works with stakeholders that span residents, business owners, developers, community leaders, local government officials, universities, utilities, investors, entrepreneurs, and more, to develop, invest, and foster conditions that:

　　Attract the private sector capital investment needed to expand New York’s clean energy economy.

　　Overcome barriers to using clean energy at a large-scale in New York.

　　Enable New York’s communities and residents to benefit equitably from energy efficiency and renewable energy.

　　INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

　　NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Siting Team supports New York’s ambitious climate and energy goals by working with local governments, communities, industry groups, and other stakeholders to address and overcome obstacles to clean energy project development. The selected intern will join a highly adaptive and motivated team and will gain first-hand insight into the opportunities and challenges surrounding clean energy technologies such as solar, wind, and energy storage.

　　This is a paid internship for current students at an accredited college. The pay rate is from $15 to $18 per hour based on current class year. This internship will begin in the Spring 2024 semester (as early as February) and continue through at least Spring 2025.

　　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 up to 37.5 hours per week between semesters, when not attending classes.

　　PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

　　Research and track local laws for solar, wind, and energy storage across the state.

　　Assist with updating and tracking community- and/or project-level data.

　　Assist the Clean Energy Siting Team in conducting outreach and educational efforts for local governments, stakeholder engagement, as well as resource development.

　　Support the implementation of new programmatic offerings aimed at improving renewable project siting and associated local solar and energy storage laws across the state.

　　Identify opportunities to research and analyze best practices or case studies for clean energy project siting, and support creation of guidance documents for local or industry stakeholders.

　　Assist with scheduling and coordinating training and education sessions across the state for local government officials.

　　Assist with managing incoming inquiries, including researching complex questions/issues related to renewable energy development and local or state law.

　　Perform other tasks as assigned.

　　MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

　　Current undergraduate or graduate student, pursuing a degree in public policy, public administration, environmental policy/law, sustainability management, or a related field.

　　Expertise or proficiency regarding policy analysis, technical research and writing, and the current federal/State clean energy landscape.

　　Expertise utilizing databases to organize data, track progress, and generate reports.

　　Working knowledge or familiarity with distributed and large-scale clean energy resources and/or relevant State and municipal processes (siting, planning, zoning, and permitting) highly preferred.

　　Ability to research complex topics and respond to external inquiries in a professional manner.

　　Ability to manage multiple assignments or priorities, meet deadlines and deliver on commitments, and demonstrate a strong and adaptive work ethic.

　　Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently on a fast-paced, multi-faceted team.

　　Excellent Microsoft Office capabilities, especially MS Excel, experience with Salesforce/CRM programs highly valued.

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