Each summer, NCSEA invites a group of hardworking fellows and interns with various energy education experience to help us in our mission to drive public policy and market development for clean energy in North Carolina. This year, we were excited to host five students hailing from UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, Claflin University, and Vermont Law and Graduate School. Check out each summer interns’ unique account of the work they did while at NCSEA and a few of their biggest takeaways below (in photo from left to right).
Aiyana Uter
My name is Aiyana Uter, and I am a senior at Claflin University. I am majoring in marketing and minoring in both psychology and English. I was introduced to NCSEA’s internship through the HBCU Energy Pathways Program hosted by Strategic Energy Innovations. I am incredibly grateful for the experience I gained during my time with NCSEA as an intern working with NCSEA’s policy analyst, as it has deepened my understanding of both the policy and energy sectors. During my time, I conducted research and wrote a blog post about data centers and the importance of policies that protect residential ratepayers and incorporate clean energy. This experience gave me valuable insight into the complexity of policy and legislative work, and this knowledge will stay with me as I pursue my aspirations of becoming an environmental lawyer.
Sarah Ellen Dean
I recently graduated from UNC Chapel Hill, where I majored in Environmental Studies. At NCSEA, I was an environmental law and policy intern through UNC’s Institute of the Environment’s Franklin Bryan Brice, Jr. Environmental Law Scholars program. This summer, I had the opportunity to research how distributed energy resources, like rooftop solar and battery systems, can be leveraged by utilities and third-party companies to strengthen grid reliability and resiliency. In this position, I dove into the technical and regulatory aspects of clean energy in our state and conducted energy policy research. During my time with NCSEA, I learned the value of sharing your work with colleagues. Everyone on the policy team was eager to support me in my research, guide me to new sources, and connect me with industry professionals who could help answer some of my questions! After my time with NCSEA, I will be pursuing a Master of Science in Law at Northwestern University, where I plan to study regulatory strategy and analysis.
Victoria Balboa
I am a 3L JD/Master of Energy Regulation and Law dual-degree student at Vermont Law and Graduate School. This summer, I joined NCSEA as a legal intern through my graduate externship program, where I had the chance to dive headfirst into the world of utility regulation and clean energy advocacy. My primary focus was supporting NCSEA’s legal team in a fuel rider adjustment docket, where I analyzed testimony and contributed to writing a partial proposed order. I also participated in stakeholder strategy calls and gave a staff presentation on energy justice, drawing connections between regulatory processes and equity outcomes. One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that strong legal advocacy relies just as much on clarity and collaboration as it does on technical expertise. This summer sharpened my legal writing and deepened my understanding of how regulatory outcomes are shaped; through legal analysis, policy strategy, and meaningful coordination across regulatory and advocacy spaces. I’m walking away from this experience inspired by the work NCSEA does every day to push for a more just and sustainable energy future and excited to continue that work in my legal career. After my time with NCSEA, I will complete my third year of school and sit for the bar exam next summer!
Malaika Martis
I am an incoming second-year Master of Environmental Management student at Duke University’s Nicholas School of the Environment, focusing on Energy and Environmental Economics and Policy. This summer I worked as a Policy Fellow at NCSEA through the Duke Stanback Fellowship Program. Through this fellowship, I had the opportunity to work on a range of regulatory and policy issues shaping North Carolina’s clean energy future. A major focus of my fellowship was drafting a research memo on the-avoided cost methodology used by the NC Utilities Commission. This work allowed me to engage deeply with the technical complexities of utility regulation and to explore how policy reform can support more accurate and equitable energy valuation. One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that meaningful policy change is often incremental, requiring a strategic blend of technical analysis, coalition building, and long-term vision. I’m walking away from this experience with a sharpened policy lens and a renewed commitment to advancing equitable energy policy!
Wonder Wei
I am a rising second-year Master of Environmental Management student at Duke University, with concentrations in Business and Energy. This summer, I was able to intern as a Marketing and Communications Fellow through the Duke Stanback Fellowship Program. During my time at NCSEA, I redesigned the organization’s membership onboarding packet with updated visuals and refreshed content and created two multi-month social media calendars with original copy and custom graphics tailored to multiple platforms. I also organized and indexed the organization’s digital content library, including videos, publications, and press releases, into a searchable inventory to streamline internal access. While conducting research for blog content, I saw firsthand how some organizations selectively use data out of context to their advantage. This experience deepened my understanding of the importance of precise language and credible sourcing in marketing and communications to ensure the public receives clear, trustworthy information.