From a Classroom to the Capitol: My ACE NY Internship Experience

By Maya Gerber, ACE NY Intern 

Over the past ten weeks interning at ACE NY, I have learned a lot about the renewable energy industry and what it takes to make a difference in the future of New York. In the classes that I have taken at Union College, I have learned about many of the concepts that ACE NY is focused on, however this was the first time I have been able to use what I’ve learned in the classroom and apply it to real life. From the beginning of my days here, I have felt welcomed and enjoyed every time I come into the office. I truly feel like the work that I have done here will help make a difference in the clean energy sector.  

 Despite living in New York my entire life, I have never known how much impact the state level government has on various aspects of the way New Yorkers live and work. In the coming months, I hope to see the bills that I have written memos for passed (or not passed) and that clean energy initiatives continue being put into place in New York. Being able to attend the annual legislative breakfast was a great culmination of my internship, as I was able to interact with legislators and hear speakers supporting the bills that I have researched and written about myself. From this, I have learned that there is no better way to understand the intricates of politics and law making without being immersed in it. During this internship, I have really enjoyed getting to work for a company that shares the passion of clean and renewable energy as I do, and for that I am grateful to have had this experience.