2020 Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West: California Energy Commission, Office of Commissioner Patty Monahan
State- and city-level efforts are essential in our fight against climate change, especially in the field of energy. Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West (SEICW)—an energy-related summer internship program—places some of Stanford University’s best students in key and influential positions in the local energy and climate-related ecosystem. This position is funded. You will be one of two Stanford students placed at the California Energy Commission (CEC); and will be with the office of Commissioner Patty Monahan in Sacramento.
The program runs from Monday, June 22, 2020 to Friday, August 28, 2020.
Organization/Agency mission or role in state government
The California Energy Commission is the state's primary energy policy and planning agency. Created by the Legislature in 1974 and located in Sacramento, the California Energy Commission has seven core responsibilities:
- Advancing State Energy Policy — As the state's primary energy policy and planning agency, the California Energy Commission prepares the Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) and collaborates with state and federal agencies, utilities, and other stakeholders to develop and implement state energy policies.
- Achieving Energy Efficiency — Since 1975, the California Energy Commission has been responsible for reducing the state's electricity and natural gas demand primarily by adopting new Building and Appliance Energy Efficiency Standards that have contributed to keeping California's per capita electricity consumption relatively low.
- Investing in Energy Innovation — Since 1975, the California Energy Commission has advanced innovation through its energy research, development and demonstration (RD&D) programs by investing millions of dollars in technologies to improve California's energy systems and resources.
- Developing Renewable Energy — The California Energy Commission is involved in many efforts to promote and support renewable energy development.
- Transforming Transportation — Transportation accounts for a major portion of California's energy budget and has a significant impact on air quality. It is also the single largest source of the State's greenhouse gas emissions.
- Overseeing Energy Infrastructure — The California Energy Commission is responsible for the certification and compliance of thermal power plants 50 megawatts (MW) and larger, including all project-related facilities in California.
- Preparing for Energy Emergencies — In 1988, the California Energy Commission developed California's first comprehensive Energy Shortage Contingency Plan that was nationally recognized. Today, the Energy Commission continues to lead the State's energy emergency planning efforts.
Assignment
Commissioner Patty Monahan’s office leads transportation policy work for the Energy Commission, oversees the Clean Transportation Program, and is responsible for leading the development of the 2020 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR), one of the major work products of the Energy Commission. The 2020 IEPR will be transportation-focused and will identify recommendations to overcome barriers to implementing clean transportation. The intern will have an opportunity to work on various aspects of the IEPR’s development and on projects related to the Clean Transportation Program.
The 2020 IPER will identify policy, regulatory, legislative, economic, technical, and other barriers to the clean transportation revolution. Because of the IPER process, 2020 in Commissioner Monahan’s office will be filled with public workshops, writing and editing report text, responding to stakeholder input, and learning ways the state can overcome barriers and make real progress on clean transportation for all.
The intern will have the opportunity to participate in this unique process and the variety of tasks and projects it will encompass. Furthermore, the Clean Transportation Program has several ongoing projects including development of the program’s annual investment plan, the vehicle-grid integration roadmap, and various administrative tasks such as legislative bill analyses. The intern will have an opportunity to work on those projects as well.
Office staff who might serve as mentors
- Patty Monahan, Commissioner
- Jana Romero, Advisor to Commissioner Patty Monahan
- Ben De Alba, Advisor to Commissioner Patty Monahan
- Strong research skills
- Writing and public speaking skills are highly desired
- 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 and Sally Benson 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 for other SEICW opportunities via SIG.
