Energy Policy Fellowship Program

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Fellows will be working full-time at the Capitol in their assigned legislative office for 40+ hours per week Monday through Friday (during session, staff often work longer than 40 hour workweeks). Participating offices have agreed to assign fellows work related to energy, natural resources and the environment as well as permit fellows to participate in ongoing programming and professional development opportunities provided by PowerHouse Texas related to energy policy, technology and innovation. As full-time members of staff, fellows will also be expected to help out in their assigned legislative office as needed (i.e. answering phones, fielding/addressing constituent needs, working on other policy issues, etc.).

  • In order to help foster relationship building and collaboration among Republicans and Democrats working on energy policy, four fellows will be placed in Republican offices and four fellows will be placed in Democratic offices. While we cannot guarantee preferred placement, we do try our best to place fellows in offices aligned with their preferred political party. 

  • Fellows will be compensated $4,100 per month. Each legislative office will add a fellow to their payroll and pay fellows $500 per month (subject to payroll taxes). PowerHouse Texas will provide the remaining $3,600 of the monthly stipend, payable on the 15th and last day of each month (fellows will be responsible for paying estimated taxes on the PowerHouse portion of payment).

  • You can find more information about how and when to make estimated tax payments to the IRS here: https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estimated-taxes.

  • While housing will not be provided, PowerHouse Texas does offer a one-time $700 moving stipend for fellows who will be moving to Austin, TX for legislative session. This one-time stipend will be included in your first paycheck from PowerHouse Texas. PowerHouse Texas can also provide assistance with identifying temporary, furnished housing available for sublet. See UT Austin Sublets Facebook group for more details: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1212732002108283.

  • Legislative offices may be offering health insurance to fellows as full-time staff. The best person to speak with will be your designated supervisor in your legislative office.

  • Fellows will have parking options at the Capitol. Location and parking permits will be handled by your legislative office. 

  • You can find the latest list of caucus members here: https://www.texasclimatecaucus.com/our-members.

  • The Legislative Reference Library produces a Daily Newspaper Clipping Service for members of the Legislative community. Each morning, Library staff members select and compile articles of interest to the legislature from over 30 national and regional newspapers: https://lrl.texas.gov/currentIssues/clips/lrlhome.cfm.

Apply for the 2027 Fellowship