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Community Energy Fellowship Program

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
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How to Apply

 

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Description

 

The Community Energy Fellowship Program (CEFP) sponsors candidates from diverse backgrounds to spend 18 months embedded in state, local, and tribal governments (Hosts) learning about and assisting in the implementation of clean energy projects and programs. Fellows will be matched with one or more local or tribal governments to apply their knowledge and experiences to the Host’s current activities. CEFP is sponsored by the Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) to support its mission of providing on-site clean energy technical assistance to its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) recipients.

Community Energy Fellows will receive hands-on experience that provides an understanding of the mission, operations, and culture of the local or tribal government and first-hand experience implementing new clean energy projects and initiatives. The goal of the Community Energy Fellowship Program is to increase access to clean energy career opportunities across the country and accelerate the national transition to resilient and affordable clean energy. Fellows will receive a stipend to support their participation in the program and an allowance for education and professional development opportunities.

For more details about the selected host cities’ EECBG projects, please visit https://www.energy.gov/scep/energy-efficiency-and-conservation-block-grant-program-awards and https://www.energy.gov/scep/energy-efficiency-and-conservation-block-grant-eecbg-program-competitive-awards.

Candidates must indicate their preferred location in their application and describe their connections to that community. Preference will be given to members of the community or to candidates with relevant lived experience with the host communities.

Fellowship Activities

Embedding Fellows in communities around the country can bring new perspectives and skills into local governments and tribes. Hence, Fellows will be assigned to selected local governments or tribes, or teams of them, that are participating in the EECBG Program. Under the guidance of the Host mentor, Fellows will learn while providing technical expertise and support to hosts in the creation, administration, and launch of new clean energy projects and programs as funded through the EECBG program.  Fellows will gain experience around energy technology areas such as energy efficiency, electric vehicle technology or renewable energy deployment to local, state and tribal governments as well as gain valuable insight into the government’s role in the creation and implementation of policies and programs that affect clean energy technology developments.

Fellows will be located on site at the assigned host community. Ideally, Fellows will be matched with their own local, state and tribal governments.  Hosts will provide mentorship, and be responsible for guidance, training and other activities necessary to ensuring a successful experience for the Fellow that builds capabilities for further career work in the clean energy or public service fields. Fellows may participate in activities such as stakeholder engagement, research, project management, policy or technical analysis, communication materials, data and metric gathering and more.

Location

Fellows are expected to live in their host communities or within commuting distance. Host communities currently seeking a fellow include the following places, and additional places will be added to this list before the end of March 2024.

  • Buffalo, NY
  • Burns Paiute Tribe, OR
  • Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
  • Decorah, IA
  • Durham County, NC
  • Eagle County, CO
  • Kittery, ME
  • Littleton, MA
  • MOWA Band of Choctaw Indians, AL
  • Nenana, AK
  • New Orleans, LA
  • Peterborough, NH
  • Shelby County, TN

About The Office of State and Community Energy Programs

The Office of State and Community Energy Programs (SCEP) works with state, local and tribal governments to significantly accelerate the deployment of clean energy technologies, catalyze local economic development and create jobs, reduce energy costs, and avoid pollution through place-based strategies involving a wide range of government, community, business, and other stakeholders. SCEP oversees programs totaling $16 billion, including foundational programs like the Weatherization Assistance Program and State Energy Program, and newly formed programs such as the Energy Futures Grants.

About the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program is a $550 million formula- and competitive- grant program that provides direct and flexible funding to more than 2,700 state, local, and Tribal governments across the United States to support clean energy projects and programs.

The EECBG Program is designed to be flexible and to meet community needs. Specifically, eligible entities can choose to implement projects aligned to over 14 eligible clean energy use areas. Examples include:

  • Energy Strategic Planning
  • Energy Efficiency in Buildings (e.g., Audits, Upgrades, and Performance Standards)
  • Renewable Energy Systems (e.g., on-site and community solar, geothermal)
  • Electrified Transportation (e.g., electric vehicles)
  • Financing (e.g., revolving loan funds)

The EECBG Program also is considered a Justice40 program, meaning that all eligible entities are encouraged to invest at least 40 percent of their allocations in communities that are considered ‘disadvantaged.’

Participant Benefits

  • Stipend: Stipends will be determined by DOE officials based on the candidate’s academic and professional background as well as location. Initial appointments are for 12-months to be extended for six months upon recommendation of the Host.  A stipend increase may be offered for the last six-months of the appointment.
    • Associates or Bachelors: $51,700 to $83,000
    • Master’s: $62,900 to $91,000
    • Doctorate: $69,100 to $110,000
  • Health Insurance: A stipend supplement will be provided to cover the cost of a health insurance plan offered through ORISE.
  • Dislocation: A stipend supplement of $3,000 will be provided to offset the costs associated with the beginning of the fellowship (e.g., moving expenses, additional technology needs, transportation costs, etc.)
  • Travel and Training Allowance:  An allowance of $10,000 for the 18-month fellowship period will be provided to cover travel related expenses for scientific and professional development activities and required travel for team meetings or site visits during the fellowship.

 

Qualifications:

  • Be a U.S. Citizen or Legal Permanent Resident (LPR) at the time of application. Evidence of U.S. citizenship or valid immigration status must be submitted to ORISE at the time the appointment is accepted.
  • Be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
  • Have completed an Associate’s, Bachelors, Master’s or Doctorate degree in science, social science, economics, mathematics, engineering, public policy, business, law or other field relevant to the DOE mission. Applicants pursuing a degree at the time of application must show proof of completion of the degree before starting an appointment.
  • Be available to start their Fellowship by Summer 2024.

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

  • Have relevant experience totaling at least the equivalent of at least two full-time years. Relevant experience includes full time jobs, internships, freelance work or volunteer experiences in fields related to DOE and SCEP's mission, such as energy efficiency, renewable energy, electric transportation, sustainability in local or tribal governments, etc.
  • Have strong analytical, research and communication (oral and written) skills and demonstrated capacity for creative thinking and participating on a project both independently and collaboratively. Fellows should be highly organized and self-directed, with strong attention to detail. Applicants should be proficient in Microsoft Office Programs, such as Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Excel and virtual meeting software such as Microsoft Teams.
  • Strong interest in clean and equitable energy solutions for state, tribal and local governments, and particularly for environmental justice and disadvantaged communities and other underserved areas. DOE seeks candidates with particular expertise and experience in engagement with and outreach with Tribes. Fellows should have a strong interest in being part of a multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment. Applicants with diverse backgrounds and lived experience in the clean energy sector, or in state, local, or tribal governments are encouraged to apply.

Additional Information

  • These are considered full-time opportunities based on 40-hours a week.
  • Fellowship funding cannot be used to support ongoing graduate research.
  • This program is intended for early, mid-career and seasoned candidates. Candidates that have completed their degree more than five years from the desired start date must possess the academic background and experience in a field related to the SCEP's mission and must be seeking to gain knowledge/experience in a new area to expand career opportunities or to advance professionally.
  • Candidates must indicate their preferred location in their application and describe their connections to that community. Preference will be given to members of the community or to candidates with relevant lived experience with the host communities.
  • For more details about the selected host cities’ EECBG projects, please visit https://www.energy.gov/scep/energy-efficiency-and-conservation-block-grant-program-awards and https://www.energy.gov/scep/energy-efficiency-and-conservation-block-grant-eecbg-program-competitive-awards.

Review and Selection

Applications will be reviewed by SCEP staff and EECBG hosting organizations. Host organizations will make their selection recommendations to SCEP.  SCEP will make final selections. In determining which applicants to select, SCEP may consider program policy factors such as candidates and EECBG entities geographical, demographic, and projects diversity, and the benefit of Fellow’s project to local communities in the EECBG’s jurisdiction or service territory. Selected candidates will be notified by ORISE.

How to Apply

  • A Zintellect Profile
  • Responses to opportunity specific questions
  • Transcripts/Academic Records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Selected candidate may be required to provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start.
  • A current resume/CV, including:
    • Basic applicant Information: Name, address, phone, email, and other contact information.
    • Work & Research Experience: List all work and research experiences beginning with current or most recent. Include the name of the employer, location, position held, and time period involved.
    • Leadership Experience: List experiences (e.g., work, civic, volunteer, research) that demonstrate your leadership skills. Detail your role, type of experience, organization, location, and duration.
    • Educational History: List all institutions from which you received or expect to receive a degree, beginning with current or most recent institution. Include the name of the academic institution, degree awarded or expected date of awarded or expected degree, and academic discipline.
    • Honors & Awards: List in chronological order (most recent first) any awards or public recognitions. Include the name of awarding institution, title of the award or honor, and date of award or honor.
  • One Recommendation - You are encouraged to request a recommendation from professionals who can speak to your abilities and potential for success, as well as your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics. Recommendations must be received by Sunday, April 7, 2024, 11:59 pm EST. Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect. Letters of recommendation submitted via email will not be accepted.

All documents must be submitted via Zintellect in order to be considered and must be in English or include an official English translation. Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

If you have questions, please send an email to CEPFellows@orise.orau.gov.

Eligibility Requirements

 

  • Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
  • Degree: Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
  • Discipline(s):
    • Business (11 )
    • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
    • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
    • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
    • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
    • Engineering (27 )
    • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
    • Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 )
    • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
    • Other Non-Science & Engineering (5 )
    • Physics (16 )
    • Science & Engineering-related (2 )
    • Social and Behavioral Sciences (29 )
  • Age: Must be 18 years of age