Every year, the DCSEU invites college students to participate in an internship program to get hands-on experience in the clean energy sector and learn a level of business development to further their expertise, as these students prepare to enter a competitive job market. Chandler Kucera, a recent graduate of George Washington University’s Environmental Resource Policy program has served as the DCSEU Policy and Research Intern throughout the last year. Check out his reflection on his time with our organization:
My time with the DCSEU
Post by Chandler Kucera
While pursuing my graduate degree in Environmental Resource Policy from George Washington University, I wanted to gain experience in which I could apply my classroom studies in a professional setting. This internship opportunity with the DC Sustainable Energy Utility was exactly what I was searching for and has provided me with an unforgettable and enriching experience. In my role as the Policy and Research Intern this past year, I was tasked with the responsibility to track and follow energy legislation both at the local and federal levels. Prior to this position, I had very little background in energy efficiency or energy policy, but I was given the essential tools and documents to grasp the foundational knowledge of the energy industry that was imperative to excel in this role.
As a DCSEU intern, I was given a structured role while also maintaining a level of professional autonomy, allowing me to explore and work on projects that both piqued my interests and were beneficial to the organization. This included:
- Developing research reports that examined equity in state energy policies around the country.
- Setting up legislative tracking software to monitor legislation.
- Outlining programmatic memos for stakeholder engagement.
- Attending policy conferences, hearings, and seminars.
My supervisor, Ben Burdick, encouraged me to explore my interests in public affairs and policy while also incorporating aspects of communications, research, program management, and professional development opportunities. Being involved in different projects allowed me to expand my skills into new areas. These included assisting in developing two award winning applications for the DCSEU, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Sunny Awards for Community Solar Grand Prize and ENERGY STAR’s 2023 Partner of the Year for Energy Efficiency Program Delivery.
I was extremely lucky to be interning with the DCSEU during a very interesting time for energy policy in both the District and the country. With legislation being passed at the federal level, like the Inflation Reduction Act, and the local level, such as the Climate Commitment Act, I was able to cover a wide range of policies that further developed my analytical skillset. Both the DCSEU and its parent company VEIC, offered cross-department collaboration opportunities related to my work, where I was able to witness firsthand how policy impacts different programs and projects across the company.
This internship opportunity with the DCSEU has been an invaluable experience for my professional career development. Having numerous opportunities to assist in a diverse set of projects has not only helped me narrow down what I want to pursue for my career but has equipped me with the necessary skills to accomplish my professional aspirations. The DCSEU internship program has helped me immensely and I highly encourage anyone looking to get involved in the sustainability, environmental, or energy sectors to consider applying.