2019 Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West: California Air Resources Board
State- and city-level efforts are essential in our fight against climate change, especially in the field of energy. Stanford University is committed to helping by integrating its students into the local energy and climate ecosystem through Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West (SEICW), an energy-related summer internship program. This position is funded; you will be one of two Stanford students placed at CARB; their office is located in Sacramento, California.
The program runs from Monday, June 24, 2019 to Friday, August 30, 2019.
Organization/Agency mission or role in state government:
The California Air Resources Board, established in 1967 by action of the California Legislature and the late Governor Ronald Reagan, is the state agency charged with promoting and protecting public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air and climate pollutants, while recognizing and considering the effects on the state’s economy. Since its formation, CARB has worked with the public, the business sector, and local governments to find solutions to California’s air pollution problems. More recently, CARB is also focusing on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The resulting state air quality and climate actions led by CARB continue to outpace the rest of the nation and lead the world in promoting clean and low-carbon policies.
Potential Areas for Internship Projects:
The intern, depending on qualifications and interests, will have the opportunity to help CARB program staff (most of them scientists and engineers) research, develop, design, analyze, interpret, and report various policies aimed at supporting the transition of the transportation sector in California to clean, low-carbon technologies and fuels including the electrification of vehicles and promotion renewable electricity and hydrogen. In all cases, the interns will have a chance to emphasize either the technical or policy aspects of the work based on priorities, interests, and direction from the CARB mentor. The interns will also contribute to the preparation of official documents for public release, and be expected to prepare an internship report as a final work product and to offer an exit seminar open to all CARB staff.
Potential Project:
California is an early leader in developing a retail hydrogen fueling and fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV) market. Other jurisdictions (including Japan [JHyM], South Korea, Germany [H2Mobility and FCH-JU], Europe [H2 Mobility Europe], Australia [H2 Mobility Australia], and potentially China) have utilized other methods and structures to support hydrogen fueling network development. For this project, the student researcher would investigate and evaluate differences between California’s strategy and the strategies in other countries. Quantification and qualitative evaluation of the differences in scale of investment, relative government funding to industry funding, risk abatement, funding and project completion flexibility, traditional investor involvement, focus on renewable hydrogen, customer-facing outcomes such as hydrogen sale price and station network convenience, and success in FCEV deployment (actual and projected) would be key areas to be developed as an outcome of this project.
Potential Mentor:
- Joshua Cunningham, Branch Chief, ACCB
- Basic understanding of California’s efforts for clean air and climate change protection and the role of public policy
- General knowledge of environmental management and of CARB and its function in the context of regulatory policy and setting emission standards for vehicles, engines, and equipment
- Strong communication skills (both written and oral)
- A demonstrated desire to work in a team environment and to learn from seasoned, expert practitioners and creators of internationally-recognized environmental policies for mobile sources
- A major in engineering, the physical sciences, and/or public policy is applicable background for this internship.
- All SEICW students must be enrolled in the spring quarter before their SEICW internship. Absolutely no exceptions are made to this rule.
- All SEICW students must take a one-unit workshop spring course, 'Energy Policy in California and the West' taught by Bruce Cain, Sally Benson, and Isaac Sevier that will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of California state agencies, the Western Interstate Energy Board, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council in driving energy policy development, technology innovation, and market structures. Course number is CEE 263G / POLISCI 73 / PUBLPOL 73. This course must be taken in person.
Please note that this opportunity is for graduate students. Interested undergraduates can apply via SIG.
