Noah Hamaoui ’25 Plans Solar Development at AC Power Internship

Describe what you’re doing this summer in your internship.

This summer, I am working on the Business Development Team of AC Power, a solar developer that specializes in previously disturbed land — this can mean former landfills, sand pits, closed mines, quarries, Superfunds, etc. One of the biggest problems with developing solar energy is the lack of space, since it requires acres of flat land, which are usually required for agriculture. AC Power only develops solar on sites that are too "destroyed" to become anything else, therefore eliminating the land competition aspect of the project. This way, they are also bringing obsolete land back to good use and working on a transition to renewable energy. Being on the Business Development side of things means that I help out with the first processes that are in place around a new site: I have learned how to screen potential sites to see if they meet the physical and regulatory criteria to have solar built on them, how to digitally model solar arrays, how to calculate the financial feasibility of potential projects, how to write business proposals and maintain contact with clients, and more. 

How did Oberlin shape or influence you to pursue this internship?

Oberlin was the main driver of my interest in working with renewable energy. In the fall of 2022, I was one of the 25 students on the Oberlin-in-London program focused on climate resilience. That semester and its weekly field trips were key to my understanding that everything in the field of sustainability is directly or indirectly connected to energy infrastructure, and that, therefore, one of the most important measures towards the climate neutrality goals that cities and institutions have issued around the globe is a transition to renewable energy sources. I then knew I wanted to explore this industry further and declared my pathway within the environmental studies major in urban sustainability. I learned more about the challenges associated with a renewable energy transition this past spring semester, when I took Professor Md Rumi Shammin's Energy and Society class, a course designed for third-years that culminates in a consulting project for the City of Oberlin. My project was to conduct a feasibility study for the installation of wind turbines at the College, which was tremendously helpful when I got to AC Power and had to conduct those studies again. 

How does pursuing this internship align with your post-college life and career goals?

Pursuing this internship was a way of testing if I could see myself working in the renewable energy industry, and, more specifically, if I could see myself working at a solar company. I have always wanted to work in the third sector, maybe for a non-profit, but decided to investigate what working at a for-profit environmental company looked like. After being at AC Power for nearly two months, I can say that I understand and appreciate the value of working at a small, mission-driven company. I genuinely appreciate the essential role developers like this have in shaping the future of the electrical grid in the United States. One of the coolest things about working with renewable energy right now is to see firsthand the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act. The incentives I learned about in class are actually a big part of making or breaking some projects, and I get to see all of that happening with a backstage pass. Moreover, this internship has given me a better idea of what type of role I can see myself having within the vast world of renewables. It gave me clarity that maybe I don't want to be a business analyst, but to work with community engagement within the renewable energy industry. Now I have a direction of fellowships and jobs to look for as I enter my last semester of college. 

How has the liberal arts education and way of thinking shaped how you approach science and research?

I believe the environmental studies major, at least in the way it was designed at Oberlin, is one of the most interdisciplinary majors in the College.  To me, that is liberal arts at its core. I find myself switching between disciplines all the time; bringing scientific topics for projects in non-science classes, or wanting to talk about environmental justice in science classes. To me, the liberal arts way of thinking translates to not putting limits on specific fields and projects. Everything is connected, and, especially when it comes to the environment, everything truly has to be connected if we want to work on the climate crises in an intersectional way. I have this 'no limits' approach so ingrained on my brain now that I will definitely take it with me wherever I go next. 

What drew you to environmental studies?

What drew me to environmental studies is the idea of how circular the work is. Sometimes a sustainable alternative to something will also be easier, cheaper, bring about local jobs, etc. I say it is circular because everything is interconnected — you can't think of renewable energy without thinking of energy justice without thinking about environmental justice in general, for example. I love how broad the field is and how much it welcomes (and demands) creativity. I wanted to work for a cause that felt urgent, and the environment was a good place to start. 

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