Since 2020, the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council has welcomed students and recent graduates to its Seasonal Internship Program, a 12-week professional experience in which interns complete projects rooted in mentorship, skill-building and advancing YVSC’s programs.
Throughout the spring, summer and fall of last year, we had exceptional project work completed by interns that impacted emissions reductions by electrifying current energy frameworks. Here I would like to highlight their efforts, successes and impact they have had on our community.
Liam Miller, an ambitious student at Steamboat Springs High School, interned at YVSC last spring. His project focused on the Colorado Green Business Network and finding ways to better communicate the many financial benefits and resources available to interested businesses to become more environmentally conscious.
To streamline this enormous amount of state-regulated information, he created 27 informative reports that provide companies with tools they can use in their transition to sustainable business practices. These reports are used by YVSC as a means of communication when meeting with interested companies about how they can affordably implement sustainable upgrades to their business.
Liam Miller YVSC/courtesy photo
Chase Podurgiel, a dedicated engineering student at the University of Wisconsin, interned at YVSC this summer.
Using the evaluator’s database and his computer science skills, Chase was able to identify local buildings with the greatest potential for beneficial electrification and energy efficiency improvements, and calculate their carbon emissions. He compared the Routt County Climate Action Plan’s CO2 emissions targets to emissions from these top energy consumers to get an idea of what it would take to meet government targets to reduce emissions by 74% by 2050.
Chase presented his findings at a CAP Collaborative Board meeting, which led to the successful award of one energy subsidy that will have a huge impact on electrifying commercial properties in Steamboat.
Chase PodurgielYVSC/courtesy photo
Caitlin Farkas, an enthusiastic environmental science graduate from the University of Vermont, is one of our current fall interns.
She is working closely with Steamboat Resort on a plan to electrify their fleet and motorized equipment. Caitlin creates an electric vehicle transition plan by analyzing the current fleet and potential areas for electric vehicle integration.
This includes evaluating potential charging locations, vehicle types, subsidy policies, tax benefits and other external financing options. This will benefit the resort’s climate goals as well as regional electric vehicle adoption efforts taking place in the Yampa Valley. Its final report will be provided to the resort to support future decision-making regarding electric vehicles.
Caitlin FarkasYVSC/courtesy photo
These interns represent just some of the critical work being done within the internship program to make progress in improving local climate action through improved communications, data analysis and collaboration, all while continuing to reduction of our city’s CO2 emissions is being continued. Their projects underscore the importance of transitioning energy from natural gas by providing compelling information our community needs to take action.
To learn more about YVSC interns’ projects, attend our upcoming Fall Intern Closeout presentations from 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM on Friday, December 6 at the Routt County Community Room, 135 6th St., or visit our website at yvsc.org/yvsc-internship-program.
Dakota Dolan is a project manager and internship program manager for the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council.
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