About Solar One
Solar One is a 501(c)(3) organization that empowers communities in the New York City metro area to thrive in the face of the challenges brought on by climate change and to embrace a world that is low carbon, resource efficient, and socially inclusive. Solar One's mission is to design and deliver innovative education, training, and technical assistance that fosters sustainability and resiliency in diverse urban environments. Solar One's Here Comes Solar program provides solar technical assistance to expand access to the benefits of solar energy among communities of color and low- and moderate- income residents throughout NYC.
Internship Details
- Hybrid internship program with 15-18 hours required per week
- Paid internship - $17/hr.
- Flexible schedule to accommodate for student s
- Start date: Preferably beginning of January 2024
- End date: May 2024 (with the possibility to extend through the summer.)
Eligibility
- Students currently enrolled in a college or university within New York; or
- A New York State resident having attended a college or university within New York between 2023-2024
Internship Overview
As the Community Solar Research Intern, you will become an integral member of Solar One’s Here Comes Solar (HCS) team. You will receive mentorship from Solar One staff in New York City energy funding, community-first solar, and developing solar for affordable housing programs. There will be additional opportunities to assist Solar One’s capacity-building work by collaborating with affordable housing providers and environmental justice organizations across the city.
The Community Solar Research Intern will learn about the community solar project development process and gain firsthand experience educating New Yorkers about the benefits of community solar. The intern will also help Solar One’s Program Leaders create a dataset of organizations dedicated to the mission of environmental justice and adoption of cleaner energies for their community. This research will include a study of solar energy funding opportunities, encompassing lending partners and grant programs that catalyze solar for the buildings who can most benefit from energy savings.
This internship is a hybrid internship, with the flexibility to work at home and in-person at Solar One’s office in Long Island City. There will be opportunities for interns to meet with their supervisor, other interns, and HCS team members. There will also be opportunities to attend events in New York City, such as visiting solar installations, forums, workshops, and team gatherings.
Internship Responsibilities
● Conduct outreach to educate New Yorkers about community solar projects on the ground and via email and phone calls
● Research community solar models and general solar energy funding to help develop informational resources for our team, as well as the public
● Provide support to the Lead Program Manager, including research, analysis, writing, and preparing presentations
● Participate in weekly team meetings, complete mentorship activities, and attend events
● Complete a culminating project that clarifies and develops the Intern’s professional goals
Qualifications
- Students currently enrolled in a college or university within New York; or
- A New York State resident having attended a college or university within New York between 2023-2024
- Relevant experience in project and data management in relation to Environmental Justice or clean energy
- Strong leadership and organizational skills
- Strong communication skills including in-person, email, phone, and video conferencing etiquette
- Excellent creative problem-solving ability
- Knowledge and appreciation of New York City’s many neighborhoods and diverse communities
Solar One is an equal opportunity employer. Solar One strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of renewable energy and resilience and people in a rapidly changing world. Solar One recruits and employs through a lens of equity and encourages people of all races, religions, creeds, national origins, ancestries, sexes, sexual orientations, gender identities, age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law to apply.