2025 Shultz Energy Fellowships: California Energy Commission, Office of the Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs
Regional-, 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 energy and climate ecosystems in the West through the Shultz Energy Fellowships program, an energy-related summer fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students.
Named in honor of former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, one of the most widely admired American public servants of the past half-century, the program offers a suite of paid, energy-related public service fellowships for Stanford students in California, Colorado, Hawai'i, Nevada, and Utah during the summer.
You will be one of three Stanford students placed at the California Energy Commission (CEC); and will be with the Office of the Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs. The fellowship runs from Monday, June 23, 2025 to Friday, August 29, 2025.
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:
- Forecast future energy demand (electricity and natural gas) to assist in planning California’s energy infrastructure;
- Promote energy efficiency by developing, implementing and enforcing the state’s appliance and building energy efficiency standards, encouraging energy efficiency upgrades in existing buildings and implementing the California Clean Energy Jobs Act (Proposition 39);
- Certify and issue environmental permits for thermal power plants 50 megawatts and larger;
- Invest in energy research, development, demonstration, and technology commercialization;
- Support renewable energy development by providing incentives for solar photovoltaic systems on new residential buildings and new geothermal facilities, and implementing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in collaboration with the California Public Utilities Commission;
- Develop and deploy low-carbon alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies and infrastructure; and
- Plan for and direct state response to energy emergencies in close partnership with the California Office of Emergency Services.
Potential Projects
The Office of the Public Advisor, Energy Equity, and Tribal Affairs (PAO+) advises and supports the California Energy Commission (CEC), stakeholders, California Native American tribes, communities, and interested members of the public in meaningful engagement and participation in CEC programs, policies and energy equity work. The Tribal Affairs team is looking to expand the CEC’s tribal affairs work throughout CEC’s energy portfolio. In 2025, this will include robust statewide engagement with California Native American tribes on: tribal energy sovereignty, tribal consultation on energy projects, tribal energy economy (including tribal enterprise and workforce development), tribal cultural resources for clean energy development, tribal energy grants, and collaborating with tribes on energy projects. Activities would include:
- Supporting engagement with California Native American tribes, including working with tribal leadership.
- Preparing briefing and other informational materials for CEC leadership.
- Researching local, state, national, and international examples of similar work.
- Supporting development of tribal outreach and engagement processes and tools.
A summer fellow will have the opportunity to work with the tribal affairs team on this exciting project that will touch almost every part of the CEC. The fellow will have the ability to work remotely, with in-person travel to events.
Work Environment
Remote/Hybrid: The CEC invites the Shultz Fellow to work remotely, with in person event attendance (agreed upon in advance).
Potential Mentors
- Mona Badie, Public Advisor
- Sierra Graves, Director of Tribal Affairs and Tribal Liaison
2024 CEC Fellows
- Claire Petersen, Environment and Resources (E-IPER), PhD '28, Office of Commissioner Andrew McAllister
- Adri Kornfein, Electrical Engineering, BS '25, Office of Commissioner Noemí Gallardo
- Learn more about Claire and Adri's experiences:
Desired Skills
- Coursework or experience in climate and energy policy
- Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and communication skills (both written and oral).
- Ability to research and synthesize information across energy-related topics
- A demonstrated desire to work in a fast-paced team
- Ability to support the team in their engagement with a wide range of stakeholders, tribes, and the public
All Shultz fellows must be enrolled in the spring quarter before their fellowship.
All Shultz fellows must take a one-unit spring workshop course, 'Energy Policy in California and the West' taught by Professor Bruce Cain and Visiting Fellow Felicia Marcus 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 / ENERGY 73. Schedule: Wednesdays from 1:30 pm - 2:50 pm.
Please note that this opportunity is open to both undergraduate and graduate students with a preference for graduate students.
