Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy Fellow Feature: Owen Setiawan

The Yale Center for Business and the Environment (CBEY)'s Planetary Solutions in Clean Energy Fellowship matches 10 undergraduate and graduate students with non-profit, low-profit, and governmental organizations committed to energy equity and the deployment of clean energy into low- and middle-income communities. The program provides summer research and internship opportunities to students at Yale who are committed to advancing energy equity and pursuing a career in the clean energy field. Through this fellowship, Owen, a rising senior at Yale College studying Global Affairs and Economics, interns at the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp (PGCC). This organization is Philadelphia's green bank, which works alongside the Philadelphia Energy Authority to help city residents and businesses decarbonize, lower bills, and improve efficiency.

 

Who are you?

 

My name is Owen, and I’m an undergraduate student in the class of 2027 at Yale. I’m pursuing a double major in Economics and Global Affairs, and within this, I’m interested in the intersection of development and sustainability. I love the outdoors, and on campus, I’m one of the presidents of Yale Outdoors and am a First-Year Outdoor Orientation Trips (FOOT) leader!

 

What initially drew you to the PSiCE fellowship and your summer organization? What excited you most about working with them this summer?

 

I knew that I wanted to pursue work in a field surrounding development and sustainability, and came across the PSiCE fellowship, which perfectly tied this in. This summer, I’m working at the Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. (PGCC), which is the Green Bank affiliate of the Philadelphia Energy Authority (PEA) and works to expand the clean energy economy in the Philadelphia area. Having been born and raised in Philly, I was immediately drawn to PGCC as it was an opportunity to work on development and sustainability within a community that was important to me. I’ve been so excited about seeing how clean energy is expanding within my hometown, and it makes me even more passionate about continuing this work.

 

Can you share what your main responsibilities or projects are during your fellowship? What does a typical day look like for you?

 

This summer, I’ve been working on many different projects for PGCC, including fundraising, supporting project procurement, planning events, doing financial analysis, conducting local research, and curating slide decks. My days typically vary from week to week depending on the project, but I usually will have meetings every day to discuss projects, feedback, and future steps.

 

What’s something you’ve learned so far this summer that has surprised or inspired you about your work?

 

This summer, I’ve learned so much about solar energy in Pennsylvania and Philadelphia beyond anything I’ve really known prior to starting my internship. It’s been so fascinating to get a deep dive into the industry while also working from the perspective of a Green Bank.

 

Looking ahead, how do you see this experience influencing your academic or career path? Has it shifted or affirmed any of your goals?

 

This experience has affirmed my interest in working in a field related to sustainability and development. I have really enjoyed meeting all of the people at PGCC, PEA, and those working to support the clean energy industry within the Philadelphia area. It’s been extremely rewarding to see the resilience of those working in this field, and it inspires me to want to pursue further work in this industry.