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2008 Internship Project Descriptions
North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association
NCSEA is a 30 year-old 501(c)3 non-profit that works to ensure a sustainable future by promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency through public policy, education and economic development in North Carolina. NCSEA is the leading energy non-profit in North Carolina, providing education programs and technical/policy analysis to state and local decision-makers, industry, partner organizations, individuals and communities through a broad array of programs and campaigns. NCSEA’s programs are inclusive of green building and climate change, in addition to renewable energy and energy efficiency. We do not work on transportation and biofuels.
www.ncsustainableenergy.org
Information Relevant to all Projects
Project 2: Electricity Rate Reform Intern
Project 3: Building Performance Intern
Project 4: Energy Education and Marketing Intern
Project 5: Renewable Energy Industry and Economic Development Intern
Information Relevant to all Projects
Qualifications:
- Enjoy discussing and helping solve energy challenges
- Research and analysis experience
- Strong writing and communication skills
- Ability to problem solve, multi-task and meet deadlines
- At least a basic understanding of electricity, renewable energy, green building, and/or energy efficiency
- At least intermediate proficiency in MS Word and Excel
Expected Products:
- Written memos for legislative and policy work, as appropriate
- Monthly time sheets
- Any other reasonable requests for reports/research
- Ensure your work product is transformed into digestible, publicly useful information, where appropriate and as directed by supervising staff
Location: 417 N. Boylan Ave. , Raleigh, NC 27603 (for all projects), with some flexibility to work from home or library one or more days a week.
Additional Information:
- Travel within state to attend public forums, meetings and/or conferences is likely; mileage and/or rental car reimbursement will be provided, carpooling wherever possible
- NCSEA is always interested in serving as a client / mentor for masters degree final projects where there is clear overlap with our work
- NCSEA ’s staff size and number of interns will give you opportunity to learn about sustainable energy and the non-profit experience from multiple perspectives and personalities
- At least one energy field trip somewhere in NC
- Monthly internal staff trainings / teaching events on various aspects of sustainable energy regulation, technology and markets
Project 1:
Renewable Energy and Efficiency Portfolio Standard Intern
Project Description:NCSEA has been instrumental in the creation, passage into law, and now the rulemaking and implementation procedures for the first renewable portfolio standard (REPS) law in the southeastern United States. The regulation and implementation of an REPS law is a complex, evolving, long-term process that requires regulatory and industry monitoring, policy and market analysis, lobbying, public education, focused outreach campaigns, and more. The REPS Intern will work as a member of our policy team, which includes state and national experts, on the aspects of the NC REPS law at issue during summer 2008.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct research, interviews, analysis and draft text for submission to the NC Utilities Commission in one or more dockets
- Attend state government public meetings involving REPS and sustainable energy issues
- Provide policy team support for legislative actions related to successful REPS regulation and implementation, including various standards, rules and incentive programs
- Be an energetic member of the NCSEA policy team
Expected Products: Serve as a major contributor of research, analysis, and writing for:
- NC Utilities Commission filings (REPS rules revisions, Net Metering, Fuel Clause Adjustments)
- Case studies of how “peer states” have tackled issues currently faced by NC
- Annual Legislative Guide and Legislative Session Wrap Up report
- NCSEA website information written and posted in conjunction with Energy Education and Marketing Intern and Policy Director and Development & Communications Director
Qualifications:
- Candidates with a focus on public policy strongly preferred
- Educational or professional experience with policy analysis
- Basic understanding of electricity regulation preferred
Supervisor: Primary: Rosalie Day, Policy Director; Secondary: Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director
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Project 2:
Electricity Rate Reform
Project Description and Responsibilities: NCSEA will be working with the North Carolina Utilities Commission, Public Staff, electric utilities, and other stakeholders to consider possible reforms to our electricity rate structure. The initial goal of NCSEA’s work will be to identify options for changing our rate structure that would increase the use of renewable energy resources and energy efficiency measures across one or more utility customer classes in North Carolina. Through policy and economic analysis, NCSEA will seek more sustainable win-win solutions with our partners that are favorable to both utility customers and electric utilities.
Responsibilities:
- Conduct research, interviews, analysis and draft text for submission to the NC Utilities Commission and Public Staff
- Coordinate with Program Manager and Energy Education and Marketing Intern to develop informative web-based and print material to inform NCSEA membership and general public
- Attend state government public meetings involving rate structure, and possibly join Policy Director to attend regional conferences, if occurring and within budget
Expected Products:
- Research reports on specific electric rate reform concepts, with recommendations on whether and how NCSEA should choose to promote rate reform concepts in various state government institutions
- NCSEA website information written and posted in conjunction with Policy Director, Energy Education and Marketing Intern, and final approval of Development & Communications Director
Qualifications:
- Degree and/or related experience in economics, public policy and/or finance strongly preferred
- Basic understanding of electricity regulation and/or electricity industry preferred
Supervisors: Primary: Rosalie Day, Policy Director; Secondary: Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director
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Project 3:
Building Performance Intern
Project Description: The Building Performance Intern’s objectives would be to provide research, analysis and recommendations on specific buildings, market trends and case studies in order to inform NCSEA’s work in the green building sector and the policy needs required to institutionalize recommendations.
Responsibilities:
- Identify high performance building trends, focusing on energy and water efficient building in NC
- Research markets and opportunities for high performance buildings in NC
- Work with Program Director, Policy Director and other staff members to communicate results and integrate into NCSEA’s education, policy and economic development goals
- Partner with businesses, community leaders and academic leaders to gather information
- Write memos for legislative and policy work, as needed
- Assist Program Manager in responding to NCSEA member requests related to high performance buildings
Expected Products:
- Summary report on high-performance building market research, industry trends, and opportunities for improved building performance in North Carolina
- NCSEA website information written and posted in conjunction with the Energy Education and Marketing Intern and final approval of Program Manager and Development & Communications Director
Qualifications:
- Experience and/or educational knowledge of building science and/or “green building”
- Familiarity with market research and analysis methodologies and techniques
Supervisors: Primary: McCayne Miller, Director of Business and Community Relations; Secondary: TBD (hiring in December/January), Program Manager
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Project 4:
Energy Education and Marketing Intern
Project Description: NCSEA is seeking the assistance of an energetic intern interested in communications and education to help us develop ways to more efficiently and effectively inform North Carolina decision-makers, business and citizens about sustainable energy in our State. Specific focus will be on NCSEA’s programs, campaigns and issues of concern, including renewable energy, energy efficiency, green building and global climate change.
Responsibilities:
- Create fresh, innovative and revised website content to enhance how NCSEA informs members, public and decision-makers on energy concepts, programs and current issues
- Create outreach materials for NCSEA’s 1 st Annual Policy Forum, 2008 Green Building & Solar Tour, Raleigh Southern Ideal Home Show, and our 30 th Anniversary campaign
- Develop marketing materials to help NCSEA expand and deepen our work with the renewable energy industry in NC
Expected Products: Serve as a major contributor of research and writing for:
- New and revised website content to inform NCSEA members, public and decision-makers
- NCSEA 1 st Annual Policy Forum, 2008 Green Building & Solar Tour, Raleigh Southern Ideal Home Show, NCSEA 30 th Anniversary campaign
- Development of marketing materials
Qualifications:
- Non-profit outreach and/or industry marketing experience is preferred
- Ability to translate complex concepts and issues into easily understandable, common sense language
Supervisors: Primary: Shana Filter, Development & Communications Director; Secondary: Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director
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Project 5:
Renewable Energy Industry and Economic Development Intern
Project Description: The Renewable Energy Business Intern will be responsible for exploring economic development program opportunities that fit with NCSEA’s mission and staff capacity. Work will include research and writing of one or more renewable energy industry reports covering on the ground status, new developments and trends here in North Carolina.
Responsibilities:
- Identify market research methodology(ies) you will use to gather industry information
- Coordinate with Executive Director and Sr. Associate to work with state and national organization partners to develop a “lay of the land” assessment for one or more renewable industries in NC
- Analyze options for NCSEA to conduct and maintain long-term monitoring and support of renewable energy industry development in NC, make recommendations to Executive Director, final recommendations to be presented to Board of Directors
Expected Products:
- Research and writing of North Carolina renewable energy industry reports.
- Summary report to NCSEA Board of Directors in September (could require about six hours of follow-up work after Fall semester begins if not completed by August 24 th)
Qualifications:
- Educational and/or professional experience with energy industry and private sector preferred
- MBA, B.S./B.A. in business related degree, marketing degree and/or highly similar experience preferred
Supervisors: Primary: Paul Quinlan, Sr. Associate; Secondary: Ivan Urlaub, Executive Director
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