Energy Verticals
Ev charging
From the chargers themselves, fleet charging services, charging networks, or advocacy groups, there are roles for everyone in this fast-growing vertical!
Resources:
Current State of the EV Charging Market; Charging Infrastructure Trends
Example Companies:
EVGo, Chargepoint, Blink, DG Matrix, bp pulse, ElectricFish, Electrify America, Electric Era, FreeWire Technologies, Volta
Get Involved:
Check out job boards for above companies and more! And, look at Accelerator’s to find other startups with focuses in EV Charging. Ex. Joules Accelerator — have done a lot of great work with EV charging startups & always looking to hire students!
Infrastructure
Green infrastructure is a way to rethink our urban challenges with nature.
Resources:
What is Green Infrastructure; How to Manage Water as an Example
Example Companies:
Brentwood Industries, Burns & McDonald, Brown & Caldwell, Stantec, Green Infrastructure Partners
Get Involved:
Brentwood Industries Careers, Green Infrastructure Partners
Transportation
This rapidly changing sector is inherently energy-dependent, with a ton of new roles popping up thanks to the rise of the electric vehicles industry.
Resources:
Example Companies:
Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Proterra, Stellantis, Ford, GM, Hyundai, Kia, Volkswaggen, BMW, Zoox
Get Involved:
US Dept. of Transportation Internships, EVGo internships + open jobs, Tesla internships
Climate Management
Quantifying and preparing for the material risks associated with a changing climate.
Resources:
Climate Risk Management, What is it?, National Climate Task Force
Example Companies:
WSP, Stantec, ICF, Deloitte, Bain & Co, KPMG, BCG, McKinsey & Co, EY
Get Involved:
Terra.do's climate management and career workshop/fellowship is a great way to learn more about the space and gain some valuable certifications!
Industrial
Manufacturing and distribution requires tons of energy, and there are mainly roles looking at how to make these processes more efficient and green.
Resources:
NRDC Industrial Production, Intro to Energy Efficient Ship Operations, McKinsey Reimagining Industrial Operations, DOE Industrial Decarbonization Roadmap
Example Companies:
Ameresco, Siemens Energy, Eslin, Boston Metal, Ayro
Get Involved:
UN’s running calendar for global events regarding industrial sustainability, Boston Metal Careers
Sustainable Aviation
The next generation of air travel, these companies are trying to make flights more efficient and substantially cut down their currently hefty carbon footprint.
Resources:
International Aviation: Intro to States’ Action Plans to Reduce CO2
Example Companies:
LanzaJet, ZeroAvia, Universal Hydrogen
Get Involved:
Investment Banks +Private Equity in Energy
Oversee mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry and provide funding for large-scale energy companies and projects.
Resources:
Private Equity Lens on the Energy Transition, Private Equity’s Role in the Energy Transition, Financing the Energy Transition
Example Companies:
Marathon Capital, Bank of America, Generate Capital, VM Capital, Blue Water Energy, Brookfield Asset Management, Quantum Capital Group, EnCap
Get Involved:
GreenBiz hosts a great conference around Energy Finance, feel free to check it out and other events they host across the country.
Marathon Capital Careers — Note Investment Banking recruitment is early (see Career Pathways)
US Energy Policy
US Energy Policy is influential in all private / public operations in the energy industry. Policies can either speed or slow the energy transition.
Resources:
Key Federal Legislation, Energy Policies of IEA Countries
Example Companies:
US Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency, Environmental Defense Fund
Get Involved:
Check out American Council on Renewable Energy's (ACORE) internship program (The have internship available in Fall, Spring and the Summer -- check out the site for deadlines)
Check out The White House's Council on Environmental Quality Internship Program (CEQ) (This also has internships available in the Fall, Spring and the Summer -- check out the site for deadlines)
Renewable Development
The process by which renewable projects are built and able to generate energy for our grid.
Resources:
Energy Development in a Net Zero World, Development for Energy Security
Example Companies:
NextEra, Brookfield Renewable Corp, Siemens, EDF Renewable, Apex Clean Energy, Avangrid
Get Involved:
EDF Renewables Careers, Avangrid Careers - they have an amazing rotational program
International Energy Policy
Climate change and the energy transition is a global problem, developing effective policies worldwide is necessary to the energy transition’s success.
Resources:
Climate Effects on US International Interests, Carbon Taxation
Example Companies:
United Nations
Get Involved:
UN Office for Sustainable Development - Fall, Spring + Summer internships available
Carbon Capture
A means of reducing CO2 emissions by capturing and sequestering carbon.
Resources:
What is Carbon Capture & How Does it Work, Carbon Utilization & Storage
Example Companies:
Carbon Engineering, LanzaTech, NewLight Technologies, Global Thermostat, 8 Rivers, Carbon Capture, Carbon America
Get Involved:
Built Environment
Incorporates everything from buildings and electricity distribution to roads and transportation systems. Roles in this sector consider how these systems interact and provide an incredible opportunity to make a tangible impact on climate change.
Resources:
Built Environment, Urban Systems, and Cities; NRDC Sustainable Cities
Example Companies:
AECOM, Jacobs, HDR
Get Involved:
Check out the UN's tips on how to get involved in sustainability and the built environment!
Jacobs has A LOT of job postings and updates them regularly so keep an eye out.
Food and Land
Rethinking agriculture and land use to create healthier and more sustainable food systems.
Resources:
Example Companies:
Organic Valley, Nature’s Path, One Degree Foods, Justins, Beyond Meat
Get Involved:
Job Seeking Resources from NESAWG (Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Working Group), Organic Valley Careers
Hydrogen
An emerging industry based on a carbon-free fuel source that could have game-changing applications in energy storage, transportation, and hard-to-abate sectors.
Resources:
Hydrogen as an Energy Source, Hydrogen Utilization
Example Companies:
Universal Hydrogen, Bloom Energy Co, Plug Power, New Fortress Energy, Linde, Syzygy Plasmonics, Electric Hydrogen
Get Involved:
Dept. of Energy's Info + Resources on Careers in Hydrogen, Plug Power Careers
Climate Activism
A way to seek political change through creating awareness and advocacy campaigns about the climate crisis.
Resources:
Climate Activism Landscape Today, GenZ and Millenials in Climate Activism
Example Companies:
Sunrise Movement, Climate Reality Project, Greenpeace, Citizen’s Climate Lobby, Climate Justice Alliance, Environmental Defense Fund
Get Involved:
Oil & Gas
From discovery and extraction to refining and distribution, these companies produce gasoline for ICE vehicles and natural gas for electricity production.
Resources:
Energy Basics, Intro to Oil & Gas
Example Companies:
bp, Shell, Exxon, Chevron, Marathon, TotalEnergies, Aramco
Get Involved:
Green Finance
Incorporates any structured financial activity that’s been created to ensure a better environmental outcome, including financing for renewables projects, pollution control, and more.
Resources:
NRDC Sustainable Finance, Intro to Sustainable Finance
Example Companies:
Generate Capital, Marathon Capital, Bain Group
Get Involved:
VCs and Startups in Energy
Venture Capital Firms support the growth of startups, which can have a major impact on commercializing needed climate tech.
Resources:
Energy's VC Renaissance, Running List of VCs, Breakthrough Energy Ventures Portfolio Page - Investing in the leading energy startups today, Lowercarbon Capital Portfolio Page
Example Companies:
Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Earthshot Ventures, Lowercarbon Capital, Azimuth Ventures, PowerhouseVentures, Heirloom, Lunar Energy, Sublime Systems, Watershed, Kula Bio
Get Involved:
Check out Newsletters on the General Resources Page. One of the best ways to get involved in VC is learning about the industry and keeping up with the trends.
Joules Accelerator Internship Program: One of the premier Startup Accelerator internships in the United States!
Transmission
Transmission is responsible for how energy moves around our grids, it is currently one of the biggest obstacles to increased renewable energy and storage deployments.
Resources:
The Surprising Key to a Clean Energy Future (Bill Gates),
DOE Report on Transmission, Princeton Net Zero America Report
Example Companies:
Grid United, NextEra Energy Transmission, TransCanyon, Pattern Energy Group
Get Involved:
Energy Justice
A means to challenge inequities in the energy sector, energy justice is crucial to having an equitable energy transition.
Resources:
Gender Equality & Human Rights
Example Companies:
Energy Justice Network
Get Involved:
Join 350 - a great organization doing a lot of amazing work around climate and energy justice!