Alumni Internship: Acadia Center – Rhode Island

*If you want more information about this BCEP graduate’s internship experience or want to get in touch with a student/alum, please contact Caroline Ramaley at [email protected].

Organization: Acadia Center

Location: Providence, Rhode Island

Student Name and Class Year:  Craig Johnson, 2014

Organization description:  Acadia Center is a non-profit, research and advocacy organization committed to advancing the clean energy future. Acadia Center is at the forefront of efforts to build clean, low carbon and consumer friendly economies. Acadia Center’s approach is characterized by reliable information, comprehensive advocacy and problem solving through innovation and collaboration.

Acadia Center is the new name of Environment Northeast (ENE). Although the  name and logo have changed, the staff, programs and commitment to results continues unchanged. Over the past 15 years, Environment Northeast (ENE) has built a successful track record of providing solutions to advance state and regional efforts to promote effective clean energy and climate policy. The new Acadia Center brand more accurately reflects the organization’s geographic scope and evolving approach.

Vision

Acadia Center envisions a clean energy, low carbon economy focused on using advances in clean technology—not fossil fuels—to heat buildings and power cars and generate power. The clean energy future will empower consumers, lower greenhouse gas emissions and improve economic productivity and the livability of our communities. Acadia Center is pursuing reforms in four key sectors that will work simultaneously to drive this profound and much-needed transformation:

• Use low- or no-carbon electricity to heat and cool new buildings and power our vehicles
• Clean up our energy supply by advancing renewable energy
• Reform outdated utility regulations and financial rules so that the regional power grid embraces renewable energy and new energy technologies installed at our home and businesses
• Maximize investments in energy efficiency — the lowest cost and cleanest fuel available

Acadia Center is working to build this system now. States and regional systems urgently need myriad energy policy changes. Regulatory barriers that limit new technology must be removed. Long-term infrastructure investment decisions being made today will lock in consumer costs and options for decades to come. Acadia Center is advancing policies that will facilitate new, clean technologies and protect customers and grow the economy.