Summer Intern Associate, Legal & Regulatory Affairs

This position is at the NY Green Bank, a division of NYSERDA. NY Green Bank is a globally recognized sustainable investment fund. Its mission is to accelerate clean energy deployment in New York State in alignment with the Climate Act.

NY Green Bank collaborates with the private sector to transform financing markets. It also develops transaction structures and methodologies that overcome typical clean energy investment barriers and can serve as replicable models for other capital providers.

New York is leading the nation in the fight on global climate change and the transition to a clean energy-powered economy. The Climate Act has created the most aggressive climate change goals in the nation and requires an ambitious agenda that blends proven catalysts with innovative approaches while operating across a broader energy arena that is rapidly evolving. New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) is a driving force in realizing this agenda. NYSERDA works with stakeholders that span residents, business owners, developers, community leaders, local government officials, universities, utilities, investors, entrepreneurs, and more, to develop, invest, and foster conditions that:

• Attract the private sector capital investment needed to expand New York’s clean energy economy.
• Overcome barriers to using clean energy at a large-scale in New York.
• Enable New York’s communities and residents to benefit equitably from energy efficiency and renewable energy.

INTERNSHIP OVERVIEW

NY Green Bank (“NYGB”) is a globally recognized $1.0 billion sustainable investment management fund with the mission to accelerate clean energy deployment in New York State (“NYS”or the “State”) by collaborating with the private sector to transform financing markets. NYGB works to increase the size, volume and breadth of sustainable infrastructure investment activity throughout the State, expand the base of investors focused on NYS clean energy, and increase market participants’ access to capital on commercial terms. To achieve these objectives, NYGB develops transaction structures and methodologies that overcome typical clean energy investment barriers, such as challenges evaluating risk and addressing the needs of distributed energy and efficiency projects where underwriting may be geared more towards larger and/or groups of somewhat homogeneous investment opportunities. With more than $2.1 billion invested as of September 30, 2023, NYGB has demonstrated that many of the financial market barriers to sustainable infrastructure projects in NYS are surmountable. NYGB is a division of the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (“NYSERDA”).

NYGB seeks a highly motivated individual with excellent organizational, critical thinking and legal research, analysis and writing skills to join the NYGB team in the position of Summer Associate, Legal & Regulatory Affairs. The Summer Associate will work closely with NYGB’s Legal & Regulatory Affairs division. The Summer Associate will gain hands-on experience with clean energy transactions and the underlying energy technologies. The Summer Associate will also gain hands on experience with New York State laws, regulations and policies relating to clean energy infrastructure and financing.

This is a paid internship for current students at an accredited college. The pay rate is from $15 to $18 per hour based on current class year. This internship will begin on June 3, 2024 and continue for approximately 10 weeks.

Interns must be located in New York State while working. It is expected that interns will follow our telework policy, with a combination of in-office and remote work. Interns work up to 37.5 hours per week during the Summer.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Support the full range of day-to-day activities of NYGB’s Legal and Regulatory Affairs division, including:
  • Providing legal advice and support for NYGB’s sustainable investment activities;
  • Providing legal advice and support on various institutional NYGB initiatives;
  • Conduct legal research on various issues arising under New York State law, regulation or policy; and
• Manage ad hoc and special projects as needed, under supervision of NYGB staff attorneys.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Current student pursuing a Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an American Bar Association-accredited law school.
• Team-player with demonstrated interest in sustainability / sustainable investments;
• Action/results-oriented: able to execute and get desired results, consistently gets things done in a timely and professional manner, honed attention to detail;
• Able to handle a large volume and variety of projects in parallel: able to prioritize and keep all initiatives moving forward to meet deadlines, flexibility to move between projects, including where priorities and objectives shift;
• Involves the right people at the right time for optimal problem-solving and decision-making;
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills;
• Able to build trust and strong relationships across (and outside) the organization;
• Takes ownership of tasks, projects and relationships and follows through on obligations and promises;
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to articulate complex concepts;
• Unparalleled work ethic with the ability to perform under pressure and tight deadlines;
• Adaptable, self-starter capable of working under limited supervision as well as taking on new and unfamiliar tasks as needed while working effectively in a dynamic, fluid and fast-paced organization.

ADDITIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

• Previous experience with project, structured or leveraged finance is not required but is a plus; and
• Previous experience with sustainable investing, clean energy technologies or climate policy issues is not required but is a plus.

TO APPLY

Please submit a PDF containing a 150-word statement of interest and 1-page resume (consolidated into one file) online by February 29, 2024. (Applications submitted only through your school’s recruiting portal will not be considered.)

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