[Hiring] Solar Intern @Energy Solutions

Role Description

Are you people-oriented and strategically minded? At the intersection of people advocacy and program operations is the person in this role! The Solar Intern will work on multiple complimentary projects from community outreach to consumer protection, all in service of our biggest equity-focused solar incentive program.

• Work with SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) across operations, strategy, and consumer protection teams to clean and analyze real program data and use cases.
• Research and compare consumer protection frameworks.
• Audit digital and print marketing materials from vendors for compliance with program requirements.
• Develop and present recommendations to support goals for equitable and sustainable solar program deployment throughout Illinois.
• Build a public-facing savings calculator to help customers understand the impact of escalation rates and total costs of PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) and leases over standard 15- and 20-year terms.
• Create accessible, easy-to-understand graphics for the website about community solar subscriptions, leases, or PPAs.

This experience will grant you:

• Real-world experience working on a statewide solar program.
• Understanding of data quality and its impact on consumers.
• Proficiency in data visualization, data analysis, and checking data accuracy.

You will also gain or deepen:

• Data cleaning and visualization skills.
• Insight into solar market trends.
• Ability to collaborate across multiple functional teams with many moving pieces.

Qualifications

• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills.
• While not required, experience in Tableau, Python, consumer protection and/or customer service is a plus.
• An understanding of and/or interest in climate justice.

Requirements

• Intermediate skill in Excel.
• Enrolled full- or part-time in an undergraduate program as a second to fourth-year student or enrolled in a graduate program.
• US Citizen or permanent resident.
• Available to meet weekly full-time hours requirement between May and August 2027.
• Motivated by the Energy Solutions’ mission to reduce carbon emissions with an equity lens.

Benefits

• Undergraduate student: $21/hr.
• Graduate student: $24/hr.

Application Process

To apply, please upload your resume, 2 short essays (500 words or less each), and a work sample.

• Your short essays must be original documents written by you.
• Each essay must be 500 words or less and answer the following prompts:
  • Describe how you have overcome adversity and applied the lessons learned to your academic, professional, or personal life.
  • Describe how the internship you apply for will enhance or help launch your career in an energy-related industry.
• Your work sample must be an original document written by you, between 1 and 3 pages long, demonstrating your ability to communicate your thinking about an idea.

Our Summer 2027 Internship opportunities are open until January 8, 2027, at 5:00 PM PST. We will not accept late applications or make exceptions regarding the criteria.

Contact Information

Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions. Applications sent in via email or past the deadline will not be accepted.