Acadia Center offers a creative, respectful, and supportive work environment. Please contact us if you are motivated by the prospect of advancing a clean energy, low carbon future. Acadia Center invites applications from highly motivated people with experience in our issues.

Acadia Center is committed to a diverse work environment that advances goals to remedy racial, environmental and climate justice issues. We value a workplace of mutual respect, the ability to learn from one another and a team culture of inclusion, shared responsibilities and decision making. People of color encouraged to apply.

Acadia Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer.  Acadia Center seeks to recruit, hire, and provide opportunities for advancement in all job classifications without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, genetic information, ancestry, military service, and citizenship.

Internships and Fellowships

Howard Gray, Jr. Climate, Equity, and Justice Internship

Acadia Center is seeking motivated undergraduate and graduate students to apply for its 2024 Howard Gray, Jr. Climate, Equity, and Justice Internship. The Intern will work with Acadia Center staff – policy experts, researchers, attorneys, and communications professionals – on projects that directly impact the organization's work, specifically focusing on climate justice, energy equity, and environmental justice. Interns may have the opportunity to meet with policymakers, attend state hearings and meetings, and work in coalition with other advocates.

Projects will be assigned based on skills and interests but will mainly include the following:

Providing background research on the intersection of racial and environmental justice issues and clean energy and climate action, including topics like energy burden, utility bill affordability, access to clean energy programs and technologies, and the distribution of clean energy benefits;

Gaining experience in partnership-building by working with environmental justice, frontline, and community-based organizations across the northeast region and identifying mutual priorities and opportunities for collaboration.

Working to track legislative and regulatory processes pertaining to our work areas, such as new energy affordability dockets opened up by Public Utilities Commissions (PUC).

Researching legal issues and policy solutions and assisting with the drafting of relevant documents and materials.

Using analysis and data to advance organizational initiatives, conducting analysis aimed at developing a better understanding of the connections between environmental justice issues and other technical areas of focus within Acadia Center’s programmatic areas.

Engaging in short and/or long-term research projects on a variety of issues, such as state program compliance with federal Justice40 commitments;

Provide input on Acadia Center’s digital media presence, including social media, the website, and other online external-facing products.

Candidates should possess a selection of the following skills, depending on their areas of study and interest:

Current undergraduate or graduate students studying environmental science, engineering, public health, economics, energy policy, law, government/political science, communications, or a related/intersecting field.

The capacity to conduct research in program areas, including policy, legal, or government proceedings, conduct interviews, and prepare summaries;

Organizing information and materials.

The ability to conduct quantitative analysis, including knowledge of Microsoft Excel, or programming and manipulating data sets, and/or qualitative analytical skills from social science disciplines;

Knowledge of social media and digital media best practices, as well as organizing and community engagement;

Knowledge or experience pertaining to clean energy, climate change, energy regulatory systems, electric and gas utilities, public health and environment, energy efficiency programs, energy equity, environmental justice, public policy, or buildings and transportation energy use are all considered assets for the prospective Intern.

To Apply:

The Intern position is fully remote, though there may be possibilities for in-person connections near Acadia Center staff locations in Rockport, ME; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Hartford, CT; and New York City. The internship is expected to run full-time for 8-10 weeks in June, July, and August and can be structured as full or part-time during regular business hours. Acadia Center will provide a stipend of $4,000 – $5,000 (full-time level) depending on factors such as degree level, background experience, and schedule. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other school or work support programs such as the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter detailing their interests, a brief (ideally no more than two pages) writing sample, and an optional diversity statement by March 31 with the subject line “Climate, Equity, and Justice Internship” to internship@acadiacenter.org. Please note that applications will be processed on a rolling basis.

Roger E. Koontz Fellow in Law and Climate Policy

Acadia Center is seeking motivated law students to apply for its Roger E. Koontz Fellowship in Law and Climate Policy. The Koontz Fellow will work with Acadia Center staff – policy experts, researchers, attorneys, and communications professionals– on projects that directly impact the organization's work. Depending on the work, the Fellow may have the opportunity to meet with policymakers, attend public meetings, and engage in coalition interactions.

Projects will be assigned based on skills and interests and could include the following:

• Clean Energy and Community Engagement. Scoping issues for legal and policy review related to community and stakeholder engagement in the anticipated expansion of the region’s clean energy projects, power grid, and transmission, such as a review of the adequacy of current permitting processes to seek and engage community-level input.

• Energy Regulatory System Reform: Researching legal issues and policy solutions on issues involving the need to reform approaches to regional power grid and state-level utility planning, financing, and governance so that it advances clean energy, climate, consumer, and energy justice goals.

• Building Energy and Energy Justice: Using legal analysis to advance organizational initiatives on energy efficiency and building decarbonization to understand better the connections between energy equity and environmental justice issues and develop policy recommendations for housing and transportation/mobility.

• Legislative/Statutory Analysis: For example, examining state laws to assess agencies’ existing authority to advance policies to cap GHG emissions and trade emissions allowances.

• Regulatory Intervention Support: In policy dockets, rate cases, and other adjudicated proceedings before Public Utilities Commissions (PUC), provide legal support for ongoing regulatory interventions through discovery, interrogatory requests, testimony drafting, and more.

The position will also provide the opportunity to gain exposure to and understanding of climate and clean energy issues by drafting public comments, policy memos, or explanatory outreach materials, attending webinars, coalition meetings, and meeting with government officials and other stakeholder groups.

Candidates should possess a selection of the following skills:

Current law students interested in environmental, climate, or energy law and policy.

• A strong interest in environmental, energy, or climate law and policy.

• An interest in the application of data, consumer, health, and equity analyses to law and policy.

• Interest in the role of energy efficiency and other clean energy programs, public policy, community, state, and regional engagement, electric and gas utilities, buildings, and transportation energy use.

• Self-guided literature research, legal/docket research, conducting interviews, and preparing summaries.

• Knowledge of social media and digital media best practices is helpful.

To Apply

The Koontz Fellow position is fully remote, though there may be possibilities for in-person connections near Acadia Center staff locations in Rockport, ME; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Hartford, CT; and New York City. The fellowship is expected to run full-time for 8-10 weeks in June, July, and August and can be structured as full or flex time. Acadia Center will provide a stipend of up to $8,000 (full-time level) depending on factors such as educational level, background experience, and schedule. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other school or work support programs, such as those offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter detailing their areas of interest, and a brief writing sample by March 31 with the subject line “Koontz Legal Fellow” to internship@acadiacenter.org. Applications will be processed on a rolling basis.

Energy and Climate Data Analysis Internship

Acadia Center is seeking motivated undergraduate and graduate students for a summer internship program. The Energy and Climate Data Analysis Intern will conduct data research and analysis projects under the supervision of our Analysis team on issues around climate, clean energy, and energy justice challenges. Candidates should be excited by opportunities to use data to inform public policy and enjoy exploring creative ways to communicate their findings to broad audiences. Depending on the projects, the interns may have the opportunity to meet with policymakers, attend state hearings and meetings, and work in coalitions.

Project areas will be developed with the Intern and could include the following areas:

Exploring energy use and cost-saving potential from energy efficiency and heating electrification in buildings

Summarize information about existing and emerging building decarbonization technologies and analyze data on improving the least energy-efficient building stock. The least efficient homes account for a disproportionate share of greenhouse gas emissions and negative health impacts associated with criteria air pollutants.

Conducting economic/consumer analyses pertaining to energy cost burdens and impacts of rate design on energy affordability

Investigating the pros and cons associated with electricity generation technologies, including hydropower and biomass

Analyzing community-level energy options, such as geothermal energy networks, and associated emissions and cost/benefits;

Conducting analysis that deepens our understanding of the connections between environmental justice issues, housing, transportation, and power generation

Working with Acadia Center’s Analysis team to assess state and regional greenhouse gas emissions levels, policy implementation progress, energy market trends, energy justice issues, and other items

Relevant areas of expertise and skills include the following. The ideal candidate would possess significant experience in all these categories, but we understand and expect that some candidates will have more in-depth experience in particular areas than others.

Current undergraduate or graduate students studying economics or policy, energy policy, environmental science, engineering, computer science, public health, statistics, or related fields strongly focusing on energy policy research and/or data analysis

Interest in energy, climate, housing, transportation, and energy systems.

Quantitative experience in the application of data to energy, climate, transportation, buildings, and energy justice policy issues.

Greenhouse gas emissions accounting experience.

Experience with energy efficiency evaluation, measurement, and verification.

Experience in using information to build coalitions and facilitate conversations.

Microsoft Excel proficiency is highly valued; familiarity with programming (Python, R, SQL), data visualization software (Tableau, Power BI), power system, transportation, and economic impact modeling (REMI, JEDI, e.g.), and proficiency in GIS mapping tools is an asset but not required.

Excellent verbal, interpersonal, written, and presentation communication skills, including distilling complex subjects and communicating them effectively to a diverse array of audiences.

Enthusiasm for Acadia Center’s mission and approach to equitable climate solutions.

To Apply: 

The Data Analysis Intern position is fully remote, though there may be possibilities for in-person connections near Acadia Center staff locations in Rockport, ME; Boston, MA; Providence, RI; Hartford, CT; and New York City. The internship is expected to run full-time for 8-10 weeks in June, July, and August and is expected to be structured as full-time during regular working hours, Monday through Friday (alternative schedules can be discussed). Acadia Center will provide a stipend of $4,000 – $5,000 (full-time level) depending on factors such as degree level, background experience, and schedule. Applicants are encouraged to seek support from other school or work support programs, such as those offered by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter detailing interests, and a brief (ideally no more than 5-10 pages) writing sample and optional diversity statement by March 31 with the subject line “Energy and Climate Data Analysis Internship” to internship@acadiacenter.org. Please note that applications will be processed on a rolling basis.