2022 Research Fellowship

The Clean Power Suppliers Association, in partnership with the Energy Transition Institute, will award up to $20,000 in research fellowships to support implementation of North Carolina’s new carbon emissions reduction law.

Fellows will receive $5,000 to conduct part-time analysis on key topics related to achieving the state’s mandate, which was signed into law by Governor Cooper in 2021 and requires a 70% reduction in power sector GHG emissions by 2030 below 2005 levels and net-zero emissions by 2050. 

North Carolina is the nation’s ninth most populous state, and as the first CO2 mandate in the U.S. passed by a Republican legislature, the new law carries significant implications for the future of state-level carbon policy. The law requires implementation of the carbon reduction mandate by the NC Utilities Commission, based on input and evidence presented by stakeholders like the Clean Power Suppliers Association.

Eligible candidates include graduate students, post-docs, and independent consultants and researchers, including engineers, legal and policy analysts, and energy market analysts. Research conducted by fellows will be used to inform regulatory implementation of the law, providing a unique opportunity for analysts to have an impact on state-level carbon policy. Fellows will have the opportunity to present their analysis to the state’s leading clean energy businesses and policy stakeholders.

The Clean Power Suppliers Association (CPSA) is a 501(c)(6) organization whose members are leading clean power developers and operators with significant operations in the Carolinas, and whose mission is to promote a sustainable future through the development of zero-carbon energy resources. Energy Transition Institute (ETI) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit think tank with a mission of educating decision-makers and emerging leaders on the benefits of transitioning to environmentally responsible energy sources.

Program Summary

Application deadline: January 31, 2022

Webpage: https://energytransitions.org/2022-fellowship

Eligibility: Eligible candidates include graduate students, post-docs, and independent consultants and researchers, including engineers, legal and policy analysts, and other energy market analysts. Candidates should be generally familiar with electricity sector decarbonization topics.

Scope:

• Each fellow will define and complete a project deliverable. The project scope will be crafted collaboratively with the fellowship sponsor when the fellowship is awarded, to ensure its relevance and impact. 
• The topical focus of projects will be on the implementation of North Carolina’s CO2 reduction mandate for the power sector.
• Project deliverables will be in the form of one or more white papers or research memos, to be completed by mid-2022.

Potential research topics:

• Maximizing the electric utility’s capacity for annual additions of zero-carbon power generation capacity
• Transmission planning for a high-renewables future
• Solar-plus-storage effective load carrying capacity (ELCC)
• Renewable power land use planning

Time Commitment: 

• Fellows should expect to spend approximately five hours per week developing their project over four to six months. 

Benefits:

• Fellows will receive $5,000, with half provided at the beginning of the fellowship and half at its completion.
• Fellows will have the opportunity to contribute to a significant, high-profile regulatory implementation effort.
• Fellows will receive mentorship and gain exposure to the region’s leading clean energy businesses and policy stakeholders.
• Fellows will have a platform to publish and distribute their analysis, including potential publication opportunities.

Location: 

• Candidates may be located anywhere in the United States. One of the fellows will be based in the Southeast, at minimum. All engagement will be virtual and no in-person meetings are expected.

Timeline:

• January: Applications collected 
• February: Fellows selected and project scopes defined
• February-May: Primary research conducted
• May-July: Drafting and follow-on analysis, projects completed 

Application Instructions

Deadline: January 31, 2022
 

Submittal: 

• Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter, and at least two writing samples to fellows@energytransitions.org
• Acceptable writing samples include a research paper, white paper, memo, or op-ed article (published or unpublished).
• Applicants should indicate in their cover letters any key topics of interest for focus as related to implementation of NC’s carbon law. 

Inquiries:

• Inquiries about the fellowship may be submitted to fellows@energytransitions.org.
• Note: Fellowship proceeds are payments for research and are taxable to the recipient.