As your local electric cooperative, we offer excellent opportunities for students and recent graduates to gain experience in a supportive and engaging environment. With hands-on learning, mentorship, and well-paid positions, our internship program provides a solid foundation for students looking for real-world experience and exposure to an exciting career in energy.
We are committed to nurturing the next generation of energy leaders. Our internship program is designed to provide interns with practical skills, industry exposure, and networking opportunities that will catapult them into rewarding careers. Whether you are interested in renewable energy, communicating effectively, or customer engagement, LPEA offers a diverse range of experiences to suit a wide variety of interests and goals.
Program Highlights:
Real-World Projects: As an LPEA intern, you won't be fetching coffee or making copies. Instead, you'll be working on meaningful projects that contribute to the cooperative's mission while getting an up-close look at how our teams work to reach our goals. From assisting with energy efficiency initiatives to supporting community programs, you'll gain hands-on experience and make a tangible impact.
Mentorship and Guidance: We believe in the power of mentorship. That's why our interns are paired with experienced professionals who provide guidance, support, and insights. Our mentors are dedicated to helping you succeed and will be there to offer advice, answer questions, and share their expertise throughout your internship.
Networking Opportunities: LPEA's internship program offers you the chance to connect with professionals from various departments and fields within the energy industry. By attending networking events and engaging with industry leaders, you'll expand your professional network and open doors to potential future career opportunities.
Our internship program has been a magnet for talent, with many successful interns joining our team as valuable employees. It's a win-win situation: they gain valuable exposure and experience, while we have the privilege of handpicking the brightest individuals from that talented pool when recruiting," explains Jessica Matlock, LPEA CEO.
Jacob Genualdi
Jacob is originally from Durango and is currently studying at Harvard. During his summer at LPEA, he is working with the communications team to research and develop Customer Relations Management software (CRM). The CRM will be crucial to developing lasting and reliable connections with our members and other community organizations.
“I am enjoying getting to know so many different people at LPEA and learning about how each person uniquely contributes to LPEA's mission. The opportunity to delve in-depth into communications as well as shadow people with so many different specialties is invaluable for someone like me who is exploring many potential career paths.
I have been surprised by the scope of LPEA's operations. While we as community members don't put much thought into turning the lights on, a lot goes into providing power for over 48,000 meters!
I am hoping to learn more about the day-to-day functioning of energy utilities and the cooperative model. I am very interested in the energy industry and hope to explore careers involving energy policy."
Alex Motler
Alex is working with Dan Harms’ team developing a calculating tool to help members determine the ideal size Photovoltaic (PV) system for a solar install. He has also been researching battery incentive programs and storage packs for our grid solutions team.
“Hi, I am Alex and I am working for the GRID solutions team helping with figuring out and managing our DER programs.
I really enjoy working at LPEA, it has been a great environment for collaboration, and everyone has been so helpful when I have asked for assistance. I still find it surprising all the work behind the scenes that goes into getting power into our members’ homes.
I am hoping to learn any valuable information so I can help do my part to lower the world's carbon footprint and produce more clean and local energy. I hope to gain experience in the energy industry so I can land a job doing what I am passionate about!”
Parker Dallas
Parker joined LPEA in March and has been working with the Information Technologies (IT) team to audit network equipment internally and externally. He also assists in updating data within our current Geographic Information Systems (GIS) system.
“ I’m enjoying the flexibility that LPEA gives to interns.
One of the hardest things for me is to be able to visually imagine the networking system in LPEA and how the network is protected.
One of my goals is to gain experience in my field. My second goal is to find a job in the LPEA. I’m interested in seeing what energy system will replace coal and gas. Will it be solar, wind, hydro, nuclear or fusion. I guess you can say I’m excited about the future of energy.”
Grant McHenry
Grant is working closely with our line crews as a groundsman to help facilitate projects in the field. Grant is essential in assisting our crews to have what they need to get their jobs done. Through this internship, Grant could transition into apprenticeship and line school for becoming a lineworker.