Clean Energy Intern - Data Cyber Security and Privacy

The Clean Energy Intern will contribute to the development and implementation of New York’s Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA) which adopts the most ambitious climate and clean energy agenda in the country. The CLCPA establishes aggressive targets to fully transition New York State to a green energy economy and provides a framework to ensure that the transition is equitable and just across all sectors.  Interns will interact with senior staff at the Department of Public Service through briefings on project development and implementation. 

Applicants should be enrolled in a graduate program and possess the following:

• Desire to work in the clean energy sector, supporting renewable energy, energy efficiency, building electrification, electric vehicle charging and distributed energy resource technologies
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong attention to detail and organization skills
• Strong skills in generating actionable insights from data through a combination of quantitative analysis and qualitative interpretation

Duties Description:

The clean energy transition envisioned by the CLCPA will require significant changes in how buildings use energy and, in turn, how the State’s energy systems supply this energy.  Data related to energy consumption patterns is critical to understand to develop viable solutions.  While this data is critical, the provision of such data must include appropriate data cyber security and data privacy protections. The Clean Energy Intern will develop an in-depth knowledge of existing energy data access mechanisms and the New York Public Service Commission’s Data Access Framework. 

The Public Service Commission (Commission) instituted a Strategic Use of Energy Data proceeding in 2020, followed by the ordering of the design, development, and implementation of a statewide Integrated Energy Data Resource (IEDR) and the adoption of the Data Access Framework. 

• The Clean Energy Intern should comprehend risk mitigation and compliance and have an interest in the intersection between technology and the law as they apply to energy related data. 
• Ideal candidates should have a desire to develop solutions that disrupt the status quo by way of innovative information technology (IT) solutions including the incorporation of innovation technologies into existing infrastructure / technology solutions in landscapes with constraints of various types. 

Responsibilities & Deliverables:

• Evaluating the plans and IT investments of utilities related to gathering and the utilization of energy related data using various analytic lenses: proposal feasibility, complexity of solution, cost-effectiveness, accuracy of estimates, degree of fit compared to alternatives, timelines required to produce benefits, strategic value, etc. 
• Maintaining knowledge of existing energy data access mechanisms and the Commission’s Data Access Framework.
• Constructively engaging with the project team on the design, development, and operation of the IEDR.
• Drafting recommendations to the Commission that balance the numerous and complex issues related to the intersection of access to energy related data, privacy, and cyber security. 
• Determining whether utility data related efforts and IT investments are planned and progressing at reasonable and appropriate levels to effectively meet the needs of the State policies, especially regarding time, budget, project requirements, benefit delivery, risk mitigation, and the use of industry best practices.
• Identifying and characterizing the types of data-related IT project implementation information required from utilities.
• Making recommendations regarding the requirement of communications protocols and other technical standards.
• Analyzing data issues to solve problems impacting data users’ respective functions.

Additional Information:

Salary:                                    Undergraduate Interns earn $19.10 per hour;                                                             Graduate Interns earn $21.22/hour.

Hours:                                     Up to 30 hours per week. 

Office Location:                       3 Empire State Plaza, Albany, New York.

Remote Work:                         A hybrid work schedule may be possible.

How to apply: Please send your resume and cover letter to recruiting@dps.ny.gov and reference “Clean Energy Internship: Data Cybersecurity – Spring 2026”