Inspiring the Future
Each year, CBEY selects a diverse group of students to participate in a summer program that provides them with real-world experiences in the clean energy sector. After a summer of learning, students return to share their findings and experiences with the broader Yale community.
This year the Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy showcase, held as part of a kickoff preview to the annual Yale Clean Energy Conference, spotlighted the remarkable work of Yale students dedicated to advancing energy equity and environmental justice through hands-on internships.
These internships are designed to help students apply their academic knowledge in professional settings, particularly with organizations focused on equitable clean energy deployment in low- and middle-income communities. Guided by Yale lecturer Rob Klee, students explored transformative projects and developed insights into the intersection of clean energy and social justice.
During the event, each fellow shared reflections on their projects, challenges, and the impact of their work. Here are some highlights:
Laura Polanco Valdez (Master of Environmental Management 2025) discussed how the transition to clean energy can enhance energy resilience for small-island communities. She emphasized the need for community collaboration and shared insights from her work with the Honnold Foundation, which focused on expanding community-owned and managed solar energy initiatives.
“This experience was invaluable in deepening my understanding of energy resilience in small-island nations, where communities face unique challenges exacerbated by climate change. After hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico, the island experienced the longest blackout in U.S. History, lasting nearly 11 months with some communities not having access to energy for over a year.
Nearly 7 years later the energy grid remains highly unstable, with frequent blackouts and fluctuating energy prices. The Honnold Foundation responded by developing a community-owned and managed solar microgrid in Adjuntas, a vital clean energy solution for local businesses.”
Magdalena Moore (BA in Global Affairs 2025) recounted their work with Ecoswell, a nonprofit in rural Peru, where they spent four weeks on hands-on projects and an additional seven weeks researching the impact of decentralized, renewable energy (DRE) on healthcare resilience.
“Reliable energy is crucial for healthcare delivery…during my time at Ecoswell, I witnessed firsthand how these systems can be designed, implemented, and maintained…It's a model that could improve healthcare delivery in rural and underserved areas worldwide, making our global health systems more resilient and sustainable.”
Alisa Reiner (Master of Environmental Management 2025) expanded her scope at EED Advisory, a pan-African consulting firm offering technical, analytical and advisory services in energy, water and sanitation and climate change.
“I did energy projects like solar home systems, productive use of energy, electricity, market assessment, resource, mobilization for transitions, and the like, but the team is really open to letting you work on things that you're not necessarily an expert in. So I had a chance to work on sanitation market assessment, although my knowledge about water sanitation was close to zero before the project.”
Felicia Fraizer-Bisner (BA in Economics 2025) interned with Jobs for the Future during the summer. Her work focused on the clean energy transition, renewable energy investments, and economic incentives within green job placement initiatives. She contributed to the Climate Resilient Employees for a Sustainable Tomorrow (CREST) project, a $25 million, five-year initiative aimed at bridging the gap between green job opportunities and workforce readiness.
“For Jobs for the Future, they were helping to identify essentially the secret sauce or the formula for cultivating green job placements... being able to really track how information is flowing, maybe from a company to an individual looking to get placed into a green job."
Eddie Cavallin (BA in Statistics and Data Science 2026) discussed his work at the Coalition for Green Capital (CGC), leveraging data science to optimize investments in clean energy projects, particularly in low-income, disadvantaged communities (LIDAC), aligning with CGC’s mission to facilitate the climate transition.
"I specifically researched peak power plants... The key takeaway [from this graph] is we can focus on decommissioning peak power plants to help low-income communities with EPA funding."
“But stats will only take you so far. To succeed, we need to create adequate community engagement."
Jenny Liu (BS in Environmental Studies 2026) shared her experience with Rewiring America, focused on advancing electrification to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly in low-income and disadvantaged communities. Her work centered on program design and market analysis for electrification efforts made possible thanks to funding from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF).
"42% of the U.S. energy-related emissions come from our own homes and vehicles... impactful work comes from centering our neighborhoods and our communities as well."
Mike Liu (Master of Environmental Management 2025) interned with the Philadelphia Green Capital Corporation (PGCC), the Green Bank affiliate of the Philadelphia Energy Authority. Her work focused on research and policy analysis related to renewable energy financing mechanisms, with an emphasis on maximizing funding impact and addressing workforce challenges.
"It’s a good opportunity for people who want to do something meaningful… and assist with regional energy transitions and gain nonprofit experience in the energy field."
"And…If you come to Philly, be sure to enjoy the cheesesteak…”
Cici Xu (BA in Economics 2026) shared her experience via video, with the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA), a nonprofit coalition focused on advancing clean energy. Her work revolved around producing a landscape and gap analysis to scale solar savings for low- and moderate-income (LMI) communities, as part of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Equitable Solar Communities of Practice program.
"Energy cost reduction should take more of the center stage in the clean energy transition narrative... it’s incredibly convincing and can appeal to a wider range of audiences."
"Collective action needs to be carried out by local stakeholders... top-down policy often neglects the demands of consumers, and this really made me appreciate the tremendously meaningful work that CESA and other nonprofit organizations are doing to break down the barriers, mend the gaps and mobilize grassroots actions.”
The showcase was an inspiring look at how clean energy can become a force for racial, economic, and environmental justice and served as a reminder we are all interconnected residents of a global community. By partnering with non-profit, low-profit, and government organizations, CBEY’s fellowship program equips students not only to learn but to actively participate in the clean energy transition.
The Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy program stands as a testament to Yale’s commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders who will champion a just and sustainable future.
If you are a student interested in applying to next year’s Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy summer internship program, the application will open by mid-January 2025. Sign up for CBEY’s newsletter to be among the first to know when it opens!