Working as an intern for Sustainable Westchester was one of the most fulfilling experiences of my senior year of high school. I hope to study environmental science in the future, so getting involved with a sustainability group in Westchester was both a great way to be involved with my community and to get experience before college. In addition, while interning for Sustainable Westchester, I found a new passion of mine! I was given the opportunity to edit testimonial videos for the Sustainable Westchester website and I quickly found that I enjoyed learning how to edit and I was able to cultivate a new skill. Not only was my work here rewarding, but all of the people I met during my internship were wonderful and always willing to help me out with my projects and I’m grateful I got to meet all of them!
Lily Carey
Spring 2021 College: Northwestern University ’25 High School: John Jay High School ‘21
My time as an intern at Sustainable Westchester was a really valuable experience that allowed the interns the flexibility to explore their own interests. I mainly worked on interviewing and profiling homeowners who had made energy upgrades to their homes and created case studies about their experiences. There were many different aspects of the case study project and all of the interns were able to work on a different aspect of it that suited their interests and abilities the best. I was able to dive right in with interviewing, writing profiles, homeowner outreach, and even newsletter design, all of which prepared me really well to study journalism in college. I also learned a lot about the renewable energy industry in a very short amount of time. I feel confident that all of the skills I picked up at Sustainable Westchester will definitely serve me well in the future.
Noah Brennan
Fall 2021 Internship for College Credit
Working with Lauren and Sustainable Westchester, I was exposed to a grassroots collective of like-minded individuals and citizens looking to tackle the challenge of reducing energy consumption and living a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle. The team at Sustainable Westchester approached the many citizens of the different towns and villages as friends and not just business projections. The project I got to work on, in particular, was setting up the bones of an automatic tracking and message system that would send relevant information to customers at different points of their home energy efficiency journeys. The biggest takeaway was the connections made between the different staff at Sustainable Westchester and working with other organizers and workers who I have come to rely on in other jobs and as a support system.
Liam Enea
Spring 2021 Clean Energy Associate
I worked in business development on the GridRewards demand response program and a solar-plus-storage pilot. Sustainable Westchester opened my eyes to the universe of energy markets, utilities regulation, electricity rate structures, and incentives programs from behind the data. Their partnerships and programs are a course in moral and effective emissions reduction and have inspired my career in the energy sector.
Sylvie Binder
Spring 2022 Clean Energy Associate
I worked at Sustainable Westchester for about 3 months between my junior and senior year of college at Columbia University. I worked on so many business development projects over that short span of time, and I am very proud of the direct impact my work had on the county. First, I helped to organize the first-ever Green Hydrogen Roundtable in New York State. Additionally, I helped further data analysis on enabling conditions for solar energy + battery storage in Con Edison territory, and provided organizational and promotional assistance associated with the launch of GridRewards, a residential and small commercial demand response program. I felt that these two projects had the potential to empower users to see sustainability as ethical as well as logical and financially sound. “Through this internship, I learned ways to help the average person see that making the world a cleaner place and acting in their best financial interest does exist.”
Humza Mumtaz
Winter 2020-2021 Internship College: King’s College London, class of 2020
As an intern for Sustainable Westchester, I had the opportunity to get involved in many different jobs which I loved. Some days, I would be speaking to homeowners about clean energy technology and some days, I would be creating videos and content for our website. I liked how I gained exposure to sales and was able to shape the role myself and offer input on many decisions. It was great to be able to work with amazing people and know that the work I was doing was having a direct positive impact on the environment and my community. Even though the internship was largely remote due to the pandemic, I was still able to get out to events like the local farmer’s market, taking photos at a client’s (resident) home, and marketing Sustainable Westchester events around town. Moving forward, I find myself using a lot of the skills I picked up at SW. Not only was the work great, the people were also fantastic and I got a ton of exposure to amazing environmental resources and webinars which I learned a lot from. Overall, the internship was a really well rounded experience and I am definitely glad I had the opportunity.
Amy Liang
Summer and Fall 2021 Internship Binghamton University, Class of 2021
My time at Sustainable Westchester has been filled with interesting projects and working with an amazing team. As a clean energy associate, my role mainly focuses on supporting community campaigns, residential and municipal engagement, and researching potential collaborations and project funds. To support community campaigns, I help organize events and outreach initiatives that connect Westchester residents with resources to promote energy efficient solutions in their homes. I also support developing marketing materials and homeowner testimonials to help families better understand the benefits of home energy efficiency. The staff at Sustainable Westchester are sustainability experts and their leadership in clean energy has made my experience working here so rewarding!
Will Borowka
Winter 2021 Clean Energy Associate
I enjoyed my internship with Sustainable Westchester tremendously. I valued getting to work with folks whose experience ranged from business development and marketing to community outreach and partnership to a more technical, “nitty-gritty” approach with sustainability. As such, I developed a variety of skills that were integral for me in helping to build and advance my own professional career. I highly recommend an internship with Sustainable Westchester for anyone aiming to learn new skills and make direct impacts on the sustainable initiatives going on in our own backyard!
Kevin Guzman
Winter + Spring 2022 Clean Energy Associate Manhattan College, Class of 2021
Sustainable Westchester cultivated an inclusive and growth driven environment where I was able to set the foundations for the next step in my career. As an associate, I was encouraged to become involved in different programs and was given the chance to contribute to these initiatives in a meaningful way. Paired with the technical skills acquired in college, the professional skills developed at Sustainable Westchester has prepared me to further my career in energy and sustainability.
Alayna Bierly
Spring 2022 Internship Oberlin College, Class of 2022
Becoming a part of the Sustainable Westchester team was a significant and valuable experience for me. As a recent college graduate, I was excited to enter the professional world of sustainability and begin to develop my skills and experience within clean energy advocacy and outreach work. As a Clean Energy Associate, I became well-versed in energy efficiency and clean heating and cooling technologies. I took on a variety of responsibilities involving and supporting community campaigns, marketing and outreach efforts, and residential and municipal engagement. The different projects and initiatives I focused on throughout the internship provided me with critical tools and exposure to sustainability work that I will be able to take with me as I continue with my career. Additionally, the staff members I collaborated with were extremely supportive and served as great models and mentors throughout the experience. Having grown up in Mount Vernon, I am particularly thankful to Sustainable Westchester for the opportunity to join this area’s sustainability efforts. I am looking forward to witnessing the ongoing work and positive impacts of the programs!
Abigael Welch
Summer 2022 Internship Rising sophomore at Boston University
My time at Sustainable Westchester has been immensely educational and enriching for me as a developing professional. It was rewarding to have the opportunity to engage with municipalities and sustainability groups to further their clean energy goals, as well as assist with the internal operations of the organization. Moreover, educating homeowners on the benefits of clean energy technologies and energy efficiency was a valuable experience, as it allowed me to make a direct impact on the community. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to work so closely with such passionate environmental advocates who are doing the necessary work to create a more sustainable future.
Lauren Kroell
September 2022 – December 2022 (4 months) University of Toronto, Class of 2022
I came out of university knowing that I wanted to jumpstart a career in clean energy, and firmly believe that Sustainable Westchester was one of the best places to do that. From the beginning, I was afforded countless opportunities to develop my interest in and knowledge of the clean energy world, and constantly supported in my professional development journey by both my supervisor and staff members in other departments. I am deeply appreciative of the encouragement and guidance that I received throughout my internship, and the manner in which it fostered a palpable sense of community among long-time staff members and incoming interns alike.
I also think that it’s important in an internship experience to feel fulfilled in the work that you’re doing, and this was definitely the case during my time as a Clean Energy Associate. It was always easy to recognize the value of the work being done – assisting homeowners trying to navigate clean energy technologies for their home, supporting community-led campaigns around clean heating and cooling, researching opportunities to make clean energy adoption more accessible and affordable, and so much more. I’m grateful to have had an internship experience that was not only engaging, but genuinely impactful, and coupled with genuine opportunities for personal growth – I think it’d would’ve been hard to find other environments where all that was achievable.
Megi Alikaj
Spring 2023 St. John’s University 23
“Having majored in Global Development and Sustainability during my undergraduate years, I knew that I wanted my work to reflect all that I had learned in my classes. Sustainable Westchester was so amazing at introducing me to all of their sustainability efforts that occur in local communities. The world of sustainability is not fairly new but not everyone has access to it. My work in the Solar department was an amazing opportunity at introducing sustainability efforts with community solar to people who might not otherwise know or have access to it due to them being renters or living in apartments. Enrolling people in community solar projects felt really rewarding as it gave people a chance to benefit from solar panels without having to install them in their houses. The enthusiasm of the customers to be part of green energy efforts was so refreshing to see. It added to the enjoyment of my job, knowing that the people I’m talking to are just as excited about being part of green energy efforts as I am. I had the chance to collaborate with other departments as well, which gave me a holistic view at how this organization works. I am so grateful to my amazing co-workers and supervisors for making my time here so welcoming and enriching. I can’t wait to see the amazing things that Sustainable Westchester does in the future!”
Laura Williams
Spring 2023 Fox Lane High School ’23 Macalester College ’27
I truly enjoyed my time interning at Sustainable Westchester. Not only did I learn more about sustainability, I was also able to expand my knowledge of environmental justice efforts in the community as well as the need for environmental justice and apply my knowledge of the Spanish language to projects related to environmental education. Over the course of my internship I learned so much about the ways in which we can increase our sustainability and help others do the same. I broadened my understanding of environmental problems in communities around me such as peaker power plants and how initiatives such as GridRewards can minimize and even eliminate the need for them. This internship was incredibly rewarding and I am very thankful for the opportunity to work with Sustainable Westchester.
Vienna Ouyang-Christiansen
Spring 2023
Byram Hills High School ’23
George Washington University ’27
Working at Sustainable Westchester has been a truly fulfilling and memorable experience. I was so thrilled to come upon this organization and when I had the opportunity to get involved, I could not give it up. As an avid advocate for the environment, I was able to pursue my interests as well as help strengthen the organization through a variety of projects. I completed individual projects to help strengthen the organization and also worked together with the other interns in my cohort to work on more complex projects. Moreover, working directly with the community was an unforgettable experience. I thoroughly enjoyed calling legislators, tabling at community events, and talking to homeowners. My favorite aspect was becoming well-versed in SW’s programs and being able to speak about them confidently with homeowners when tabling at community events. I will take the skills gained at SW with me into my future endeavors.
Talia London
Spring 2023 Briarcliff High School ’23 Emory University ’27
I really enjoyed my time as an intern for Sustainable Westchester, both working with and learning from the SW staff and other high school interns. Everyone was so helpful and welcoming from the first day, which made the entire internship very memorable and gratifying. I think it was amazing how we were exposed to such meaningful experiences in such a brief period of time, whether that was getting to understand and witness the sustainability efforts of clothing banks such as The Sharing Shelf in Port Chester or road tripping to Albany with the other interns in order to support the NY Heat Act during legislative session. I truly appreciate how the HS Experience Program prepares young adults to take on responsibility and independence through practice with tabling, phone calls, research, and really any other project that interests the interns. I can confidently say that my time at Sustainable Westchester gave me great insight into what a real work experience looks like and furthered my strong interest in pursuing an environmentally-related career.
Molly Levitt
Spring 2023 Croton-Harmon High School ’23 Washington University in St. Louis ’27
As a high school student with very little internship experience, I had no idea what to expect going into my time at Sustainable Westchester. From the first day, it was clear that the team at Sustainable Westchester trusted us and wanted us to explore our interests to the fullest. Each of us in our group fell into our niche pretty naturally – for me, that was making lots of written and visual content and working towards my goal of making information about energy efficiency more accessible to everyone in Westchester. I represented Sustainable Westchester at events all across the county along with other interns, where I learned so much and met so many amazing people. We spent a whole day traveling up to Albany to participate in about climate legislation. As an incoming college freshman interested in studying political science and environmental policy, this internship was a great opportunity to learn about the impacts that environmental sustainability has on our everyday lives, and the importance of this work for all aspects of society. I learned a lot about environmental justice and public health which will definitely impact my studies and the work I do going forward.
Jada Fleiss
Spring 2023 Valhalla High School ’23 University of Vermont ’27
This internship was a great opportunity that allowed me to expand my understanding of sustainability practices, specifically when it comes to clean energy. It really connected me to my passion for environmental justice, something I don’t necessarily get in the classroom. I loved that I was able to actually interact with Westchester residents and enlighten them on the programs available to them. The program really allows for interns to focus on projects that they care about, and I loved creating a map of all the thrift stores in Westchester and I hope it will support others who are looking to discover local thrift shops. I had such a wonderful experience at Sustainable Westchester, and I learned so much about different sustainability practices and programs that will be incredibly helpful as I begin studying environmental engineering next fall.
Alaska Fairbanks
Spring 2023 Byram Hills High School ’23 Duke University ’27
Being interested in sustainable business and environmental policy, I enjoyed gaining insight into the dynamics of local climate initiatives while working in Sustainable Westchester’s Solar Department. I was given the opportunity to connect with residents throughout Westchester while recruiting for a community solar project based in Mt. Kisco, as well as municipal officials when requesting support for CCA legislation to be passed in New York State’s government. When doing research, I was also intrigued to learn more about policy work. Finally, through in-person tabling events, I was able to reach out directly to community members, meet members of other environmental organizations, and collaborate closely with fellow interns. Ultimately, being a part of Sustainable Westchester was a rewarding experience because of the great people I worked with and the valuable work that we were able to do for the community.
Megan Ort
Fall 2022 NYSERDA Clean Energy Intern Graduate School – Columbia University, 2022
“My internship at Sustainable Westchester marked the official start of my second career after spending ten years as a musical theater performer. What drew me to Sustainable Westchester was the Westchester Power Community Choice Aggregation Program. I had briefly worked as a sales agent for a renewable electricity supply company, so I had experience doing “door-to-door” style electricity sales at green markets and events around New York City. I enjoyed my position because I felt I was using my time and energy to make an impact and increase the use of clean energy, but I was fascinated to learn that Sustainable Westchester had managed to switch entire towns to 100% renewable electricity supply! I wanted to get involved and learn how to maximize impact in this way. During the internship, I was fortunate to work with the Solar Team and immerse myself in another large-scale clean energy initiative: community solar, which delivers guaranteed savings to subscribers’ electricity bills. Solar energy plus guaranteed savings — a no-brainer! I appreciate how all departments at Sustainable Westchester place community engagement at the forefront — from working with town boards and community leaders to connecting with individual members at public events. I’m grateful to have kick-started my new career at Sustainable Westchester.”
Erick Tiburcio
Washington University in St. Louis, 2026 Time of Internship: 5/23/23 – 8/9/23
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” —Abigail Adams
I learned a great deal about sustainability this summer and I realized had it not been for my genuine interest in the topic, I would not have enjoyed my stay with SW. Seeing the inner machinations of solar companies and how outreach is really done was of importance to me, and learning about community solar interested me greatly. I am grateful to have interned at SW this summer, thank you.
Trey Davis
SUNY ESF ‘21 Spring & Fall 2023 NYSERDA Clean Energy Intern
“I worked with Sustainable Westchester throughout the majority of 2023 and I will say that it has been a very productive experience where I was able to learn a lot. Sustainable Westchester allowed me to begin building my knowledge in the sphere of community solar. I had a front seat to see the development of renewable energy in NYS. I aim to take my new experiences and knowledge and apply them to new avenues in the future to continue the fight for a sustainable future and for environmental justice.”
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