Renewable Energy Fellow

Loyola University New Orleans is seeking a Renewable Energy Fellow to support renewable energy development in Louisiana. The Fellow will work with a coalition to develop and implement energy policies, conduct research, and participate in meetings with stakeholders. This full-time, limited-term position requires a law degree and interest in renewable energy. The role is primarily office-based at the university and includes travel to Baton Rouge for meetings.
Description
The Renewable Energy Fellow will work to support renewable energy development in Louisiana in partnership with a coalition led by the Center for Planning Excellence, Inc. (CPEX). This coalition, which is comprised of CPEX, the Alliance for Affordable Energy and the Southern Renewable Energy Association, as well as other partners on an ad-hoc basis, is working with municipal leaders and municipal co-ops, other utilities, Louisiana Public Service Commission (LPSC) commissioners and staff, and other stakeholders to develop and implement renewable energy policies that support transmission planning and grid advancements.
The Fellow will work under the supervision of the Director of Research for CELL, with additional support from the Director of CELL. The Director of CELL and the Director of Research for CELL will coordinate closely with CPEX – including CPEX staff serving in a faculty role at Loyola – and the renewable energy coalition described here to set the direction for the work of the Fellow.
The Fellow will primarily work at an office at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law campus, but will also travel to Baton Rouge periodically for meetings. Mileage expenses will be covered per federal rates. A workspace will be made available to the Fellow at the CPEX offices in Baton Rouge on an as needed basis.
This position is a limited-term, grant-funded, full-time, benefits-eligible position. The Fellowship will begin in the Spring Semester of 2026 and run through the end of the Summer of 2026, with the possibility to extend through the 2026/2027 academic year.
Examples of Duties
The Fellow will be responsible for providing legal research and policy support to the coalition to advance its agreed-upon renewable energy campaign goals, including:

Participate in coalition meetings to maintain consensus on renewable energy campaign strategy and goals.
Attend monthly LPSC meetings, as well as additional hearings on an as-needed basis.
Conduct research into open dockets related to renewable and distributed energy resources and generation.
Research, analyze, and track renewable energy policy, primarily at the state level, but also at federal and municipal levels.
Intervene in a new or existing regulatory docket at the LPSC, in line with the coalition’s scope of work.
Draft docket filings and share key research and talking points with coalition partners to support their docket interventions and filings.
Produce internally and externally facing documents to teach key findings to the coalition and for a lay audience.
Bring policy knowledge and expertise to develop, support, and implement passage of policies that reflect best practices related to renewable energy resources.
Perform day-to-day tasks associated with organizing and sharpening the coalition’s efforts at the LPSC.
Serve as a resource for policymakers and regulatory agencies on issues related to renewable energy.
Other duties as assigned.

Typical Qualifications

Law school graduate degree required with an interest in renewable energy and/or climate policy work.
Possesses a working knowledge of or interest in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and/or climate issues.
Excels at policy research, including reading and analyzing docket filings.
Ability to engage in relationship-building and political processes.
Excellent communication and leadership abilities, enabling effective collaboration with diverse internal and external stakeholders including public speaking and interpersonal communication skills.
Exercises excellent judgement while working and communicating with partners and stakeholders.
Skilled at analyzing complex issues, summarizing and drawing conclusions, making recommendations, and communicating to others in a clear way.
Demonstrates strong writing skills with a high level of attention to detail.
Actively works to grow professionally and help others do the same, able to quickly learn and both take initiative and take direction while thinking on their feet in a nuanced, changing environment.
Must possess and maintain a current valid driver’s license as a condition of employment, and must also be able to successfully pass any driver background information investigation and any driver education courses required by Risk Management.

Physical Requirements
Ability to complete job duties with or without reasonable accommodations.

Travel Information
The Fellow will primarily work at an office at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law campus, but will also travel to Baton Rouge periodically for meetings. Mileage expenses will be covered by CELL per federal rates. CPEX will make a workspace available to the Fellow at the CPEX offices in Baton Rouge on an as needed basis.

In accordance with the Campus Security Act as amended, Loyola University publishes annually and distributes to members of the academic community, and upon request to prospective (students/employees), an annual security report. That report includes current policies and procedures of the University Police Department for the reporting of campus crimes, notifying the campus community of occurrence of campus crimes, policies regarding access to campus buildings, the enforcement authority of the University Police Officers and their relationship to local police. University policies on the possession, use and sale of alcohol and illegal drugs are outlined. The Campus sexual Assault Program and policy is described. Campus crime statistics as defined under this law for the last three calendar years are included. A copy of this report may be secured from the (Office of Admissions), (Office of Human Resources), or from the University Police Department.

Loyola University New Orleans does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran’s status or national origin in its educational programs or activities, including employment and admissions. At the same time, Loyola cherishes its right to seek and retain personnel who will make a positive contribution to its religious character, goals, and mission in order to enhance the Jesuit, Catholic tradition.