Roger E. Koontz Fellowship 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 - attorneys, policy experts, researchers, and communications professionals - on legal projects that directly advance the organization's work. Depending on the assignment, 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 encompass one or more of the following areas of focus:

• Energy Regulatory System Reform Researching legal issues and policy solutions on issues relating to the need to reform approaches to regional power grid and state-level utility planning, financing, and governance to advance clean energy, climate, consumer, and energy justice goals;
• Clean Energy and Community Engagement Scoping issues for legal and policy review related to community and stakeholder engagement in the anticipated expansion of regional and interregional 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;
• Building Energy and Energy Justice Undertaking legal analysis supported by data to advance organizational initiatives on energy efficiency and building decarbonization to better understand the connections between energy equity and environmental justice issues, and to develop policy recommendations for housing and transportation/mobility;
• Legislative/Statutory Analysis Examining federal and state laws to assess existing authority to advance policies to develop clean energy resources, transmission, cap GHG emissions or trade emissions allowances;
• Regulatory Intervention Support Providing legal support for regulatory interventions through discovery, interrogatory requests, testimony drafting, and more, in policy dockets, rate cases, and other adjudicated proceedings before state Public Utilities Commissions;
• Clean Energy Procurement Undertaking legal analysis and advocacy in regional settings of multi-state procurements for clean energy resources, or regional procurements for public policy transmission upgrades, supporting Acadia Center analysis of Requests for Proposals, contracts, and ISO New England tariffs filed before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, for their impact on costs, reliability, emissions reductions, equity, and beyond.

Requirements

Applicants should be currently enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and have completed at least one full year of law school in good standing before the fellowship begins. Demonstrated interest in environmental, energy, administrative, or public-interest law is preferred. Strong research, writing, and analytical skills are required.

The Fellow will work under the supervision of a licensed attorney. Applicants should submit a résumé, cover letter, law-school transcript, and writing sample.

Benefits

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-$13,000 (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).