Energy Policy Fellowship

PowerHouse Texas is now accepting applications for the 2025 Energy Policy Fellowship and will be accepting applications on a rolling basis until October 31, 2024. 

PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship 

The PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship is a rigorous 5-month long, PAID fellowship program in the Texas State Legislature in Austin, Texas to gain experience in energy and environmental policy. The Energy Policy Fellowship is specifically intended for individuals with a background in science, engineering or environmental sciences who are interested in gaining hands-on experience in policymaking and learn how the state legislative process works. The fellowship offers undergraduate, graduate students and recent graduates the opportunity to learn about the  functions and operations of the Texas House of Representatives or Texas Senate during a legislative session, which only occurs for 140 days every other year. The program will help pave the way for a career in energy and environmental policymaking. 

Accepted program participants will be placed in either a Democrat or Republican legislative office and serve as a full-time policy fellow responsible for researching and analyzing legislation. PowerHouse Texas carefully selects the Representative or Senator Office for each Fellow to maximize their growth as policy leaders and enhance the quality of their Fellowship experience. Fellows will work alongside experienced legislative staff and participate in regular meetings where they will interact with other program participants, academic advisors, industry leaders, elected officials and state agency representatives. 

In addition to learning the legislative process and developing their leadership skills, participants will receive a monthly stipend of $4,000 to assist with living expenses, plus a one-time $500 moving stipend for those who will be moving to Austin for the session. The PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship begins on January 13, 2025 with a mandatory program orientation, and ends on June 2, 2025. Fellows will be required to work full-time in Austin, Texas for the entire duration of the legislative session. 

After the Fellowship program, Fellows are encouraged to continue working in energy policy, and PowerHouse Texas will support Fellows in securing full-time positions within the State Capitol or a state agency. 

Applicants with a STEM background and/or experience living in frontline communities that experience the worst impacts of climate change or in energy communities where energy production is a major economic activity in their area will be prioritized. We are looking for Fellows that represent the diverse state of Texas with different political beliefs, geographies and interests. 

PowerHouse Texas
Founded in 2022 in response to Winterstorm Uri, PowerHouse Texas is dedicated to educating and cultivating energy policy leaders, fostering bipartisan collaboration, and driving evidence-based policy change to address Texas' most pressing energy and environmental challenges. As Texas holds the dual distinction of being both the largest greenhouse gas emitter and the leading producer of clean energy in the U.S., PowerHouse Texas is uniquely positioned to influence the state's decarbonization efforts. Alongside our sister organization, the Texas Energy & Climate Caucus, we play a critical role in combating misinformation, bridging the science-policy education gap, and ensuring that Texas continues to lead in the transition to a more resilient and sustainable energy future.

We focus on empowering legislators and policy staffers with the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions that promote sustainable energy practices. Through initiatives such as the Energy Policy Advisory Council, Innovation Forums, the Energy Academy, the Texas Energy Tour, and the Energy Policy Fellowship, PowerHouse Texas not only addresses current policy needs but also cultivates a new generation of energy and environmental policy leaders. Given Texas' influence in the national energy landscape, our efforts have the potential to create lasting impacts both within the state and across the country.

Work Requirements / Academic Credit 

Applicants should understand that all program participants will be considered full-time staff by the members’ offices where they are assigned. Though responsibilities may vary from office to office, program participants should expect to work beyond a typical 40-hour work week. 

For graduate students interested in seeking educational credit as part of their participation in the fellowship program, the determination of how many credit hours the PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship qualifies for will vary among colleges and universities; it is the student’s responsibility to learn how their respective schools award academic credit and provide requirements to PowerHouse Texas staff in advance of starting the program. 

To learn more about previous fellows, what they got out of the fellowship and where they are now, please visit our website: https://powerhousetexas.org/energy-policy-fellowship.

Eligibility Requirements 

A program participant of the Energy Policy Fellowship must meet the following requirements:

• Must have an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution, AND be a recent graduate, within three years of January 2025, OR
• Be a graduate student enrolled in an accredited institution OR be a recent graduate, within three years of January 2025,
• Possess excellent composition and communication skills, 
• Provide community/extracurricular involvement, recommendations, and supporting documents that speak to their leadership potential, and 
• Must have a minimum grade point (GPA) average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 

Program Calendar*
Applications Open: August 2024

Final Application Deadline: October 31, 2024

Fellows Announced: December 1, 2024

Mandatory Program Orientation: January 13, 2025

Program Ends: June 2, 2025
*Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and interviews will be conducted between September - November, 2024.

APPLICATION CHECKLIST 

*All application materials must be received no later than 5:00PM on October 31, 2024.

❏ Submit Application Google Form: HERE including uploading the following materials:

❏ Personal Statement: Provide a personal statement describing your personal, work, educational, and community experiences that have led you to apply for the PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship. Please answer how these experiences relate to your long-term professional goals, and how this legislative experience will contribute to your future leadership within Texas. Personal statements should be approximately 500-700 words.

❏ Resume listing education, honors, extracurricular activities, community involvement, employment history and special skills 

❏ Two Recommendation Letters from individuals other than family and friends (addressed to Lyndsi Lambert at Lyndsi@powerhousetexas.org. May be sent separately but must be received by 5:00 PM on October 31, 2024). Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation attesting to their personal, professional, and academic integrity. Letters should provide thoughtful examples of the applicant’s leadership experience, community involvement, major strengths, areas for improvement and development; and lastly, describe how the applicant would benefit from the PowerHouse Texas Energy Policy Fellowship.

❏ Writing Sample (500-1500 words, can be a press release, op-ed, school paper article, policy brief, etc.) 

❏ Academic Transcript(s) from your most recently attended institution (unofficial transcripts are permitted) 

If you have any questions, please contact Lyndsi Lambert for additional information at Lyndsi@powerhousetexas.org or 225-205-4124.