CELT fellows gain valuable career experience while supporting communities across the state.
By Sofia Sanchez (SWIP Summer Writing Intern, summer 2025)
As climate legislation and clean energy investments accelerate across Massachusetts, a new initiative is ensuring communities—and students—are leading the way.
With $5.7 million in funding from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the Clean Energy and Environment Legacy Transition (CELT) Initiative brings together universities, government agencies, and communities to expand equitable access to energy transition resources and build local climate resilience. The Healey-Driscoll Administration, in partnership with the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and UMass Lowell, launched the initiative last fall.
To train the next generation of sustainability leaders, CELT offers paid fellowship positions for Massachusetts college and graduate students through the 12-month Office of Energy Transformation Fellowship (OET) and the six-month Municipal Fellows Program. Two BU graduate students and a recent alumna currently serve as fellows, gaining valuable career experience, helping local leaders expand clean energy opportunities, and interpreting complex data for decision-making.
“The program brings talent from our universities into state government, boosting our capacity to lead on clean energy while giving fellows real-world experience in key energy issues impacting our state and region and the role policy and government play in enabling a more sustainable, affordable, and equitable energy future,” says Melissa Lavinson, executive director of the Office of Energy Transformation at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. “It’s a win-win that strengthens both our workforce and our climate strategy.”
With a Focus on Equity, Catherine Keane Connects with Communities across the State
Catherine Keane, a CELT fellow in the OET who recently graduated with a major in political science and minors in environmental policy and sustainable energy, has been working with the state on its energy transformation rollout. The OET aims to accelerate a just energy transition in Massachusetts, one that benefits workers, businesses, and communities.
Keane contributes to projects aimed at reducing reliance on aging energy infrastructure, including peaking power plants and the Everett Marine Terminal. She also attends and supports community meetings across the state, evaluating new technologies and policy options for reducing emissions and promoting energy equity. For Keane, a Pennsylvania native, Massachusetts is an exciting place to start her career.
“Massachusetts is doing a lot of things that no one else is doing,” Keane said. “The Office of Energy Transformation is an office that doesn’t exist in any other state in the country. It’s the first of its kind that’s really focused on dealing with the issues that are involved in transforming a grid.”
Keane says the OET is examining how to make the grid reliable amid growing energy needs, while also considering social factors like the rollout of new clean energy jobs.
“It’s about the changes that need to happen to make sure that we can make this systemic change and make sure that it happens equitably and affordably,” she said.
With a focus on both technological and social aspects of the clean energy transition, the OET Fellowship prepares students to become climate leaders.
“It’s about the changes that need to happen to make sure that we can make this systemic change and make sure that it happens equitably and affordably.”
Catherine Keane
“We hope students leave the fellowship with a deeper understanding of how energy policy is shaped and implemented, and how critical broad stakeholder engagement combined with public-sector leadership is to drive the clean energy transition,” Lavinson said. “Beyond technical skills, the fellows are gaining an appreciation for the complexity of policy development, the importance of collaboration, and the impact they can have by contributing their expertise.”
Paige Kelley Brings Public Health Lens to Help Electrify Arlington, MA
The Town of Arlington has a goal to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 by transitioning homes, municipal facilities, businesses, and transportation to cleaner energy sources. Paige Kelley, a graduate student at BU’s School of Public Health and a CELT municipal fellow, is playing a central role in Arlington’s energy transition planning.
“Paige has been tremendously helpful in moving forward key projects in Arlington,” said Talia Fox, Arlington’s sustainability manager. “She jumped right in and has taken the lead on our greenhouse gas inventory update, which she’s already completed and has presented to our Clean Energy Future Committee.”
The inventory lays the foundation for the Town’s Net Zero Action Plan, which is updated approximately every five years to ensure the community is on track to reach net zero by 2050.
The fellowship allows Kelley to meaningfully combine her interests in health, equity, and climate resilience.
“I am a firm believer that public health provides an amazing foundation of skills and perspective, especially when you want an equitable clean energy transition and ensuring that all populations and all outcomes are considered,” Kelley said. “I’m really passionate about public health, and also about the hands-on approach to climate mitigation as well, which is why this fellowship ties in perfectly.”
Interacting with local leaders and connecting with residents in Arlington has given Kelley hope for the future of climate action.
“I am a firm believer that public health provides an amazing foundation of skills and perspective.”
Paige Kelley
“Local sustainability managers are doing so much work. And I think it’s wonderful, and it definitely makes me feel hopeful,” Kelley said. “I’ve met a lot of people who are really, really passionate and want a cleaner planet.”
Victoria Lai Combines Private and Public Sector Skills to Support Salem’s Energy Transition
Victoria Lai, a full-time MBA student on the social impact track at Questrom School of Business, joined the CELT Municipal Fellowship to explore sustainability and climate action from a local government perspective. Lai is working with the City of Salem, a Massachusetts-designated Green Community and Climate Leader Community.
“I was interested in CELT because I am passionate about community development, and in particular, learning how governments play a critical role in building healthy and resilient communities,” she said. “I wanted to take part in helping drive sustainability initiatives and understanding the obstacles involved in implementing large-scale projects.”
Given Lai’s background in finance and process improvement, CELT offers an opportunity to bridge her private-sector skills with public service. Lai is developing a public-private partnership plan to attract more private investments for Salem’s sustainability and clean energy projects. She opened up a request for proposals and will help select a qualified partner to help execute this plan, which includes conducting feasibility studies and designing a community geothermal and solar energy network.
“I wanted to take part in helping drive sustainability initiatives and understanding the obstacles involved in implementing large-scale projects.”
Victoria Lai
Additionally, she is also supporting the rollout of curbside electric vehicle charging infrastructure across the city and overseeing grant funding towards the decarbonization effort of two school buildings.
“We are exploring multiple projects to foster a just clean energy transition here in Salem,” said Neal Duffy, director, sustainability and resiliency for the City of Salem. “Victoria’s professional and academic background and experience have been incredibly helpful for us as a department. Her confidence and ability to work independently have made it very easy for us to integrate her into ongoing and new initiatives.”
Equipping BU Students for Impact
CELT reflects the belief that decarbonization must be local, inclusive, and data-driven. Through CELT, three BU students from three different schools and majors have found positions where they can use their unique skillsets to make a tangible difference on a local scale.
“I hope students gain exposure to the inner workings of local government and come away with an understanding of how to make change and get things done on the ground in communities,” Fox said. “I hope they feel motivated to pursue meaningful work on climate, whether in local government or beyond, having delved into topics and projects that pique their interest and expand their skillsets.”
Want to Get Involved?
CELT is now hiring students for its second cohort of Municipal Fellows. The fellowship is open to all majors and schools statewide. The next cohort will start in January 2026.
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