Solar Intern

Interested in joining a growing company where you will work with talented colleagues, enhance a supportive and energetic culture, and be part of the climate solution? At Energy Solutions, we focus on the big impacts. And we believe that market-based programs can be a powerful force to deliver large-scale energy, carbon, and water-use savings. Since 1995, we’ve harnessed that power to offer proven, performance-based solutions for our utility, government, and institutional customers.

Are you people-oriented and strategically minded? At the intersection of people advocacy and program operations is the person in this role! The Solar Intern will work on multiple complimentary projects from community outreach to consumer protection, all in service of our biggest equity-focused solar incentive program.  

In this full-time (~40 hours/week) role, you’ll work with SMEs (Subject Matter Experts) across operations, strategy, and consumer protection teams to clean and analyze real program data and use cases. You'll research and compare consumer protection frameworks and audit digital and print marketing materials from vendors for compliance with program requirements. Using this data, you will develop (and present!) your own recommendations to support our goals for equitable and sustainable solar program deployment throughout Illinois. Your recommendations will directly improve our customers' experiences and program effectiveness.  

You'll also help customers directly by building a public-facing savings calculator. This calculator will help them understand the impact of escalation rates and total costs of PPAs (Power Purchase Agreements) and leases over standard 15- and 20-year terms. In addition, you will create accessible, easy-to-understand graphics for our website about community solar subscriptions, leases, or PPAs, which will draw and empower potential customers. These combined resources will help customers understand why and how our solar program can benefit them, their families, and their communities. 

This experience will grant you: 

• Real-world experience working on a statewide solar program 
• Understanding of data quality and its impact on consumers 
• Proficiency in data visualization, data analysis, and checking data accuracy 

You will also gain or deepen: 

• Data cleaning and visualization skills 
• Insight into solar market trends 
• Ability to collaborate across multiple functional teams with many moving pieces 

To enable you for success, we are seeking candidates with these qualifications: 

• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills 
• Strong research, writing, and analytical skills 

While not required, we love to see candidates with experience in: 

• Tableau 
• Python 
• Consumer protection and/or customer service experience 
• An understanding of and/or interest in climate justice 

Compensation:  

• Undergraduate student: $21/hr 
• Graduate student: $24/hr 

Skills: 

• Data Analysis 
• Customer service 
• Strong written and verbal communication 

Personality Traits: 

• Attention to detail 
• Organized 

Qualifications: 

• Intermediate skill in Excel 
• Enrolled full- or part-time in an undergraduate program as a second to fourth-year student or enrolled in a graduate program 
• US Citizen or permanent resident 
• Available to meet weekly full-time hours requirement between May and August 2027 

Nice to have/coachable: 

• Python and/or Tableau experience 

To apply, please upload your resume, 2 short essays (500 words or less each), and a work sample.

**In order to be eligible for this position, you must be:
**

• Currently enrolled full- or part-time in an undergraduate program as a second to fourth-year student or enrolled in a graduate program
  • Please note we are unable to accept applications from first-year undergraduate students or recent graduates who are not enrolled in a program
• A US Citizen or permanent resident
  • Please note we are unable to host international students
• Available to meet your weekly hours requirement between May and August for Summer and between September and November for Fall
• Motivated by the Energy Solutions’ mission to reduce carbon emissions with an equity lens

You may apply to up to 2 positions per cycle.

To apply, please submit:

• Your updated resume/CV.
• 2 short essays that meets the criteria below.
• A work sample that meets the criteria below.

Your short essays must:

• Be original documents written by you. We will not accept work written by or with the assistance of ChatGPT or other AI/chatbot programs.
• Be 500 words or less each.
• Answer the following prompts:
  1. Describe how you have overcome adversity and applied the lessons learned to your academic, professional, or personal life.
  2. Describe how the internship you apply for will enhance or help launch your career in an energy related industry.

Your work sample must:

• Be an original document written by you. We will not accept work written by or with the assistance of ChatGPT or other AI/chatbot programs. You are permitted to submit a section of a larger document, including a document you wrote in collaboration with others, so long as the section you submit is entirely your own work.
• Be between 1 and 3 pages long, single or double spaced, not including sources. You may submit a document longer than 3 pages but we will not read past the 3rd page.
• Demonstrate your ability to communicate your thinking about an idea. This is vague by design; anything that you wrote—whether for a class, a job, or for personal reasons—and are proud of will probably suffice.
• Focus on a topic important to you. The topic does not have to be related to the internship you are applying for, but if it is, all the better.

Our Summer 2027 Internship opportunities are open until January 8, 2027 at 5:00 PM PST!

We will not accept late applications or make exceptions regarding the criteria. We reserve the right to close our applications before the deadline.

Please reach out to internships@energy-solution.com with any questions. Applications sent in via email or past the deadline will not be accepted.

If you are interested in a Fall position, check back in summer. Our Fall 2026 program application cycle opened in May 2026.

AI Use

At Energy Solutions we believe in the importance of authentic interactions and equitable opportunities. We base our candidate selection on one’s own skills, knowledge, and experience. To ensure the integrity and fairness of our interview process, the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools (including Generative AI) or other means to generate or assist with responses during interviews is strictly prohibited. This practice supports our commitment to create a transparent and equitable space where skills, knowledge and experience can truly shine.

Background Check Information

Information will be requested to perform the compulsory background check. A drug screen and authorization to work in the U.S. indefinitely are preconditions of employment. Energy Solutions is an equal opportunity employer.

Reasonable Accommodations 

Energy Solutions is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. If you require an accommodation in completing this application, interviewing, and/or completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email accommodation@energy-solution.com.

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