A Note from the NCSEA Team:
NCSEA believes that diversity among our teammates and the energy industry as a whole is critical to our success. Workforce development and training are essential to growing diversity and a sustainable pipeline of talent in the clean energy industry, while also improving access to clean energy jobs – all central to creating a clean energy economy.
How does NCSEA contribute to workforce development in clean energy?
Internship and Fellowship Programs
NCSEA implemented and maintains robust internship and fellowship programs, with the goal of exposing students to a variety of clean energy sectors and jobs. Through training and networking, students learn about clean energy and make connections with our members and industry partners. Many of our students go on to accept professional positions in the clean energy industry, in part because of their experiences with NCSEA.
Women in Clean Energy Mentorship
Through our Women in Clean Energy (WICE) program, we provide mentorship opportunities to women who are early in their careers or just emerging into the world of clean energy. Where the clean energy industry is still largely male-dominated, this program aims to grow the number of women in the industry, especially women of color, by encouraging professional relationships and learning opportunities for them.
Partner with HBCUs
NCSEA has developed relationships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in North Carolina for the purpose of introducing clean energy to diverse student populations. We annually attend career fairs, participate in student networking events, and provide paid internship opportunities to students interested in learning more about clean energy.
Share Member Opportunities
We help our members get the word out about their own career and training opportunities by sharing them on our website.
Network with Local Colleges
We routinely participate in networking and career events with North Carolina colleges and universities. It is through these opportunities that we are able to teach students about NCSEA as well as possible careers and pathways in clean energy.
While we are paving the way, we know there is so much more to do! Over the next 1-3 years, we hope to double the number of internships and fellowships we host each year, develop deeper relationships with our HBCU partners, continue to grow our mentorship opportunities through WICE, and contribute to the development of clean energy related training and curriculum.
Interested in an internship at NCSEA? Send your resume and cover letter to careers@energync.org.
Perspectives from Our Former Interns and Fellows:
Sagar Shah
Energy Efficiency Fellow, 2019 and 2020
Kyle Herdegen
Energy Data Solutions Intern, 2020
“I can't tell you how many times I brought up the experiences I've had at NCSEA when answering interview questions, and I'm sure they wouldn't have chosen me if not for my time working and learning at NCSEA. So, a big thank you for giving me the opportunity back in August 2020 and for teaching me along the way."
Claire Williamson
Energy Efficiency Fellow, 2019
“How to put this concisely? If you are interested in learning about the inner workings of North Carolina clean energy policy NCSEA is where you wanna be. Plus, there is a strong culture of teamwork and opportunities for interns to do meaningful and interesting projects. I got to help create an ambitious and innovative grant to bring solar power, energy storage, and energy efficiency to low wealth members of a co-op. The connections and experience I gained while at NCSEA were a big factor in how I landed my current position as Energy Policy Advocate at the NC Justice Center."
Are you interested in supporting these efforts at NCSEA, funding an intern, or giving us other suggestions?
We’d love to hear your perspective!
