Ashfield MA is a small town (less than 2000 people) in western Massachusetts, about an hour from Williamstown. The Ashfield Energy Committee is an all volunteer town committee tasked with helping the town reduce our carbon footprint through energy conservation and renewable energy initiatives. We are looking for an intern to help with numerous exciting projects. Start and end dates for this internship are flexible. The person would work with daily support of Energy Committee members but the right person should be able to work independently.
We would like an intern to help with any/all of the following (depending on interest/ability)
-Research and write monthly Energy Committee column for the Ashfield News
-Help plan for, run, and attend monthly energy committee, municipal solar and residential solar working group meetings, attend regional energy committee coalition meetings
-Help with Residential Solarize campaign
-Help Energy Committee members create the Decarbonization Road Map for the town to stop on site fossil fuel use by 2050 as required to achieve “Climate Leader” status and qualify for funding for municipal solar.
–Help plan and staff monthly booth at farmers market to educate residents about renewable energy and speed adoption of EV’s, solar, etc.
-Attend meetings of other town boards (Select Board, Planning Board, Finance Committee, Conservation Committee) as needed to coordinate efforts.
-Create Facebook and other social media pages for Energy Committee to better get the word out about our efforts.
-Help find and write grants for Energy Committee programs and initiatives.
-Help us recruit more young people to join the energy committee.
This is a wonderful opportunity for a student to develop skills in environmental planning, writing, public education, and grant writing; to get a sense of the workings of town and regional government; and to make a real impact for a small town without a large staff to move projects forward.
An intern would be given space in Town Hall to work 30-40 hours/ week. Free housing will be provided in town center within walking distance of Town Hall, gas station/convenience store, hardware store, pizza restaurant, and lake with swimming beach. Housing is contingent on student being willing to be completely scent free as host is chemically sensitive (this means no perfumes but also no scented laundry detergent, shampoo, lotions, etc). Host will supply all body and washing products, please do not bring any with you, this includes any and all makeup, lotions, deodorant. Also looking for a non smoker of any kind. Student would not have to have a car but it would be ideal as there is not public transportation here. Ashfield is also home to Double Edge Theatre and 30 minutes away from both Greenfield, where there are weekly contra dances, and Northampton, with lots of restaurants and activities.
Questions? Feel free to call or email.
Interested?
Please send cover letter/ resume to:
Alexandra Osterman (class of 1992)
925 Conway Road
Ashfield MA 01330
413 834-8966