Spring 2025 Western Energy & Equity Intern (CCSF & SFSU Students Only) (Credit Only)

Overview

NRDC is a non-profit environmental advocacy organization. We use law, science, and the support of 3.1 million members and online activists to protect the planet's wildlife and wild places and to ensure the rights of all people to clean air, clean water, and healthy communities. NRDC was founded in 1970 and our people helped write some of America's bedrock environmental laws, including the Clean Water Act and many of the implementing regulations. Today, our team of more than 700 lawyers, scientists, economists, policy advocates, communications experts, and others work across the United States and the globe from our offices in Beijing; Bozeman, Montana; Chicago; New Delhi; New York; San Francisco; Santa Monica; and Washington, D.C. 

NRDC is seeking a Spring Semester Clean Energy & Equity Intern to work with the Climate & Energy western team associated with our San Francisco office. This internship is for academic credit only.

NRDC is seeking passionate individuals to bring their unique skills and perspective to help us develop equitable environmental policies that cut greenhouse gas emissions so that no one is left behind as we transition to a clean energy economy. As part of this internship, you will: 

Gain exposure to designing equitable clean and affordable energy policies;   

Help create memos, reports, graphics, and blogs based on research and data analysis that are used to advance our advocacy at the state legislature and energy agencies; and  

Work on projects that advocate for high-quality jobs and inclusive decision-making processes that are accessible to all Californians. 

Responsibilities

You will be an integral part of NRDC, working as a critical member of our Western Energy Team in the San Francisco office. You will gain exposure to a variety of activities and build transferable skills. The following are some examples of activities that you can expect throughout the internship:  

• Participate in staff meetings and learn about how a large non-profit operates. 
• Participate in meetings with advocates from other environmental and social justice organizations and potentially with Commissioners and Legislators. 
• Learn the regulatory processes of key state energy agencies where most of California’s energy policy is determined.  
• Interact with various NRDC staff to widen your exposure to various projects and programs.  
• Enhance research ability.  
• Deepen written and oral advocacy skills. 
• Leave with completed projects (e.g., blogs, memos, graphics, etc.) that can be added to your professional resume. 

Qualifications

Required: 

 

• Gain exposure to designing equitable clean and affordable energy policies;   

• Help create memos, reports, graphics, and blogs based on research and data analysis that are used to advance our advocacy at the state legislature and energy agencies; and  

• Work on projects that advocate for high-quality jobs and inclusive decision-making processes that are accessible to all Californians. 

 

NRDC is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in our work and in our workplace. We believe that celebrating and actively welcoming diverse voices and perspectives is essential to solving the planet's most pressing environmental problems, and we encourage applications from candidates whose identities have been historically under-represented in the environmental movement. 

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. 

The incumbent will not qualify as an employee, fellow, volunteer, or independent contractor of NRDC, nor will the incumbent be guaranteed employment at the end of the internship term. 

Our offices are open and we are operating in a hybrid model. We offer NRDCers flexibility, and we encourage them to come into the office and spend meaningful time there in collaboration with their colleagues. We call this purposeful presence. 

As a science-based organization, NRDC aims to do our part to help contain the COVID-19 public health crisis. For the sake of health, safety, and equity, we ask that people be vaccinated unless they have an approved medical or religious accommodation or other exemption in accordance with state and local law. We consider a person to be vaccinated two weeks after receiving one full course of a CDC-approved vaccine. In accordance with state or lo