RENEW Wisconsin

Internship Location: Madison, WI

Organization Type: Nonprofit

Policy Areas: Renewable Energy

For my internship, I am honored to serve with RENEW Wisconsin, a leading non-profit advocacy organization actively engaged in supporting the renewable energy transition for Wisconsin in sustainability, carbon reduction, energy regulation, and clean energy. As the Policy and Government Affairs Intern, this has been an incredible opportunity to participate in the innerworkings of legislative process at the state level gaining in-depth knowledge about fiscal policy and the biennial budget, regulatory agency management, and about how important it is to have a voice early in the policy process. With our Legislative Affairs and Policy Directors, I have attended meetings with Wisconsin legislative staff regarding potential bill language, worked stakeholder events like the Farm Bureau Conference, assisted with the annual RENEW Wisconsin Energy Summit, and attended Earth Day events. My experience with RENEW has given me a broad depth of knowledge and exposure to Wisconsin state government level policymaking while being mentored by amazing experts in the arena. The internship at RENEW also continues to teach me valuable lessons about how to successfully navigate divided government, conservative legislative majorities, and the importance of issue framing to educate and advocate at all levels for positive change. I’m grateful to be continuing this important work into the summer and appreciate all that I have learned both from La Follette and at RENEW Wisconsin to actively assist in the process of ensuring that Wisconsin is well positioned for the energy transition.