Energy Equity Intern
The Bennington County Regional Commission (BCRC) seeks a motivated, hard-working individual who is interested in equity and energy systems for a summer intern position supported by the Williams College CES intern program. BCRC is a regional planning commission that serves seventeen municipalities in the Bennington County region of Southwestern Vermont.
The intern will perform an energy burden and justice analysis for Bennington County based on statewide and regional analyses recently completed for the Vermont Energy Action Network. Energy burden is defined as the percentage of household income spent on energy costs such as electricity, heating, and cooling. Bennington County has previously been identified as having a high energy burden. The intern will use data and research to assess the energy burden across towns in Bennington County and develop recommendations for addressing energy burden in the region that incorporate energy equity and justice principles. The intern will also research existing state energy policies and evaluate selected policies using the Energy Justice Scorecard developed by the Initiative for Energy Justice.
The Energy Equity Intern will:
- Use the most recent data available to determine the energy burden by income and housing type for each town in Bennington County.
- Conduct interviews with local community organizations that provide fuel assistance to energy-burdened households in Bennington County to identify challenges and opportunities unique to the region.
- Research existing state energy policies and programs most relevant to the region’s challenges. Select at least three and evaluate their effectiveness in the region using the Energy Justice Scorecard and other evaluative tools.
- Develop recommendations for addressing energy burden in the region that incorporate principles of energy equity and justice.
- Develop a public presentation and/or written report on the project findings.
The successful candidate will have strong research, data visualization, and writing skills and be comfortable with self-directed work. GIS skills preferred.
The position is full time (35 hours/week) for eight weeks beginning in mid-June. Work can be done remotely, in-person at the BCRC office in Bennington, or hybrid depending on the intern’s preference. Housing is not currently available, though Williams College campus housing may be available subject to confirmation by the intern. Funding is dependent upon Williams College CES funding availability. If the intern wishes to work out of the Bennington office, and is based out of Williamstown without a vehicle, transportation between Williamstown and Bennington is available through the Green Mountain Express.
To apply, submit a resume and cover letter to [email protected]. Interviews will be conducted on a rolling basis and the position will be open until filled.
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