From Intern to Impact
In June of 2023, a curious Rafael stepped into the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) Niagara Power Project as an intern. By the end of that summer, he wasn’t just another student with a résumé bullet, he was a young professional with a mission, a mentor in the making, and a living example of how workforce development can power a clean energy future.
Rafael’s story is inspiring, and also serves as a blueprint for others. Through NYPA’s Environmental Justice internship program, students like Rafael gain more than classroom knowledge. They receive real-world experience, dedicated mentorship, and meaningful opportunities for growth. A combination that transforms potential into purpose. This model aligns directly with NYPA’s VISION2030 Renewed, our strategic roadmap to deliver affordability, reliability, and equity across New York’s energy system.
What made Rafael’s internship unique at NYPA? Like any strong internship, Rafael’s began with safety briefings, project scoping, and clear expectations. But unlike many internships, his work had immediate community impact. He translated his work into actionable insights, learned how to brief decision-makers, and connected technical findings to real-world benefits. This is the kind of workforce muscle New York State needs as electrification accelerates, and grid complexity grows.
What Rafael’s NYPA Internship Journey Reveals
Place Matters: Internships are prioritized near NYPA assets and projects, so students learn on the systems that power their own neighborhoods.
Skills Are Stackable: Students build data literacy, safety culture, and stakeholder communication skills that transfer across public and private sectors.
Equity Is Measurable: Outreach focuses on historically disadvantaged communities, with clear checkpoints like internship completion, credential attainment, and job or education.
A Real-World Use Case
In one recent summer internship cohort at the Niagara Power Project, interns analyzed energy-use patterns in NYPA facilities. They flagged opportunities for efficiency, drafted briefs, reviewed them with mentors, and presented them to partners who acted on the insights.
It’s a modest task with a powerful loop: data → insight → action. Students see their work come to life. Communities see government deliver. Lawmakers see a replicable model with visible benefits.
The Flywheel Effect
Rafael’s evolution from intern to mentor is the compounding effect we’re after. When our internship alumni can coach new students in safety, presentation skills, and professional norms, momentum builds, and community trust deepens.
This flywheel effect of experience, mentorship, and measurable results is how New York can meet rising energy demand without compromising affordability or reliability. It’s how we ensure the benefits of decarbonization are shared broadly, not captured narrowly.
A Call to Action
NYPA’s efforts to create internship opportunities for students are critical components for the energy transition. Programs like the Environmental Justice internship, paired with NYPA’s VISION2030 Renewed, let us demonstrate value in real time:
Paid internships today
Apprenticeships and degrees tomorrow
A diverse, job-ready talent pool that keeps the lights on and bills manageable
Rafael’s story reminds us: the most resilient infrastructure we can build is human. Let’s turn more internships into impact, together!
Want to bring this pathway to more students in your area or scale an existing program? Invite NYPA to brief your team. We’ll map local hiring needs to credentials, outline a paid internship cohort, set shared metrics that make progress visible to your community. Click here to learn more!