Environmental Permitting Intern for Renewable Energy

Westwood Professional Services; Minnetonka (MN); On-site; USD 25,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. seeks an Environmental Permitting Intern to join our multidisciplinary environmental team supporting siting and permitting of wind, solar, and battery storage projects.

You will apply environmental science and regulatory coursework to real-world renewable energy development. You will learn to navigate NEPA, state siting statutes, and local zoning; assist senior permitting specialists with permit applications, agency correspondence, and environmental

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program in Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Environmental Policy, or a related field.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interact professionally with clients, agency representatives, and project team members.
• Willingness to learn in a flexible, cross-disciplinary work environment.
• Willingness to attend site visits and perform work in outdoor field conditions on occasion.
• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the preparation of federal, state, and local permit applications for wind, solar, and battery storage projects.
• Conduct desktop research and constraints analysis using GIS and publicly available regulatory databases.
• Support the drafting of environmental documentation, including biological assessments, cultural resource reports, and environmental impact statements.
• Help track permitting schedules, agency comments, and compliance deadlines across multiple active projects.
• Coordinate with internal technical staff, including biologists, wetland scientists, and engineers, and external agencies to compile permit-supporting materials.
• Travel to project sites as necessary to support field data collection and agency site visits.

Skills

Communication skills

Outdoor work readiness

Driver's license

Education

Undergraduate or graduate Environmental Science/Environmental Studies/Environmental Policy

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Westwood Professional Services, Inc. seeks an Environmental Permitting Intern to join our multidisciplinary environmental team supporting siting and permitting of wind, solar, and battery storage projects.

You will apply environmental science and regulatory coursework to real-world renewable energy development. You will learn to navigate NEPA, state siting statutes, and local zoning; assist senior permitting specialists with permit applications, agency correspondence, and environmental