2026 FELLOWSHIPS

Virtual: PT ♦ CT/MT ♦ ET
In-Person: Bay Area ♦ Chicago ♦ New York City ♦ Washington, DC

CELI’s 4-month fellowship program for working professionals consists of weekly programming on energy literacy topics, Saturday sessions that go deeper on leadership skills, and preparation for a capstone project. In 2026, all fellowships begin on Wednesday, July 29 and run through December 3, 2026. Sessions feature thought leaders and expert practitioners in the field and include uniquely curated activities for fellows to dive deeper into the curriculum. Fellows are challenged to think critically about current energy policy and market structures, examine existing and historical inequities, identify barriers to clean energy deployment and innovation, and develop holistic solutions towards an equitable energy transition.

After core program completion, CELI fellows join an active, connected network of ~ 1,700 alumni nationwide. Our alumni continue to play an active role in the CELI community by hosting discussions, publishing thought pieces, attending ongoing leadership and professional development training, gathering at conferences, and participating in regular social and networking events. CELIons (CELI alumni) make the Fellowship possible year-after-year.

For any questions on your application, please contact applications@cleanenergyleaders.org

Program Structure & Key Dates

Virtual Fellowship Structure

  • Cohorts meet predominantly on Wednesday evenings, unless scheduled otherwise with advance notice, at these times:

    • PT Virtual Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm PT

    • CT/MT Virtual Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm CT // 5:00-7:00pm MT

    • ET Virtual Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm ET

  • Click here for the tentative 2026 CELI Fellowship Schedule, we will share an updated version with accepted fellows before July

  • All session meetings are synchronous and active participation is required

  • All sessions are virtual

  • Session materials and agendas will become available one week prior to the session date on Google Classroom

  • Most of the speaker lectures will be recorded and shared on Google Classroom for your cohort (dependent on speaker consent)

  • The fellowship consists of 26 total sessions, of these sessions:

    • 19 sessions require consistent attendance

      • 5 sessions are mandatory (see the list below)

    • 7 sessions are optional and encouraged 

  • Fellows must attend all mandatory sessions and at least 16 of the 19 non-optional sessions to remain in good standing under the program’s participation policy (see full details here).

Virtual Fellowship Mandatory Dates:

  1. Wednesday, July 29 - Orientation

  2. Tuesday, August 4 - Introduction to Energy Justice Frameworks & Energy Equity Supports

  3. Saturday, September 12 - Adaptive Leadership Balcony Dance Floor Activity

  4. Wednesday, December 2 - Capstone Night 1

  5. Thursday, December 3 - Capstone Night 2

In-Person Fellowship Structure

  • Cohorts meet predominantly in-person on Wednesday evenings, unless scheduled otherwise with advance notice, at these times:

    • Bay Area Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm PT

    • Chicago Virtual Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm CT 

    • New York Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm ET

    • Washington, D.C. Cohort: Wednesday evenings 6:00-8:00pm ET

  • Click here for the tentative 2026 CELI Fellowship Schedule, we will share an updated version with accepted fellows before July

  • Active participation is required for all sessions 

  • Session materials and agendas will become available one week prior to the session date on Google Classroom

  • Guest speakers may join virtually for the session or in-person 

  • The fellowship consists of 26 total sessions, of these sessions:

    • 19 sessions require consistent attendance

      • 15 sessions are in-person 

      • 4 sessions are virtual 

      • See the list of the 5 mandatory sessions below

    • 7 sessions are optional and virtual 

  • Fellows must attend all mandatory sessions and at least 16 of the 19 non-optional sessions to remain in good standing under the program’s participation policy (see full details here).

  • In-person session dates: 7/29, 8/5, 8/12, 8/26, 9/2, Saturday 9/12, 9/16, 9/30, 10/7, 10/21, 10/28, 11/4, 11/18, 12/2, and Thursday 12/3. These dates are subject to change with advance notice from CELI.

In-Person Fellowship Mandatory Dates:

  1. [In-Person] Wednesday, July 29 - Orientation

  2. [Virtual] Tuesday, August 4 - Introduction to Energy Justice Frameworks 

  3. [In-Person] Saturday, September 12 - Adaptive Leadership Balcony Dance Floor Activity

  4. [In-Person] Wednesday, December 2 - Capstone Night 1

  5. [In-Person] Thursday, December 3 - Capstone Night 2

2026 FELLOWSHIP CURRICULUM OVERVIEW

Over the course of the fellowship, CELI Fellows will explore adaptive leadership, clean energy technology, policy, finance, and be challenged to look critically at inequities and power dynamics in clean energy systems. Fellows will practice their skills in public speaking, persuasive writing, and business pitching, as they prepare to deliver a capstone project via one of these methods. Most importantly, through the curated cohorts that comprise each fellowship, Fellows are introduced to approximately 20-35 peer participants, who will become a vital community of practice -- we hope, for life.

The program includes:

  • An opening orientation where Fellows will virtually gather for two hours to connect with their cohorts, be introduced to the CELI leadership team and staff, review requirements and expectations for the program, and engage in a high-level discussion of current climate challenges. 

  • Educational modules with weekly virtual sessions consisting of a mixture of readings, lectures with expert practitioners, panel discussions with leaders in the field, hands-on activities, and small group discussions to build knowledge, community, and connection among Fellows. Module topics include energy markets, new technologies, deep decarbonization, policy and civic action, and an introduction to energy justice topics.

  • Leadership development workshops introduce Fellows to an adaptive leadership framework creating space to reflect on purpose and role in the energy transition.

  • Saturday sessions will focus on community building, sustainable infrastructure finance and capital markets, and leadership development.

  • Capstone Projects build public speaking, writing, or pitching skills. Fellows will be assigned Peer Pods to support the design and delivery of their capstone projects.

  • Community Programming as casual, optional activities open to the Fellows, as well as alumni and community members. 

Additional Program Requirements:

For graduation, the fellows are required to develop and submit a Capstone Project that hones their skills as a clean energy leader. Fellows can choose from the following Capstone projects:

  • Opinion piece: A 600 to 800-word thought piece on a clean energy topic of choice. Fellows will receive guidance and edits from an assigned peer group, as well as assistance on pitching their blogs to industry publications. All opinion pieces will be published on CELI’s Medium page, and highlighted in our newsletter reaching 8,000+ unique readers.

  • Business Pitch: Fellows will have 7 minutes to propose a new clean energy business or non-profit to receive feedback from a panel of judges, CELI alumni, and peers. 

  • TED-Style Presentation: Fellows will have 7 minutes to take the stage and present on a clean energy topic of their choice to CELI alumni and peers. 

CURRICULUM AT-A-GLANCE

Module 1: Energy Markets (July - August)

Fellows will build their energy fundamentals knowledge and gain an understanding of energy justice frameworks and practice. Topics covered will include: an overview of power markets, common utility models, electricity rates, ratemaking, and energy justice frameworks.

Sessions in this module include:

  • Energy Markets

  • Energy Fundamentals 

  • Equitable Rate Design

  • Introduction to Energy Justice Frameworks & Energy Equity in Practice

  • Energy Resilience

Module 2: New Technologies (September)

This module explores what technologies are needed and available to bring firm and flexible clean energy for a reliable and resilient electricity grid system. Topics covered will include: challenges and opportunities in energy innovation, new solutions of renewables plus storage for energy security, and developing and scaling new technologies like hydrogen, long term storage, next-gen nuclear, and more.

Sessions in this module include:

  • Energy Storage and Grid Modernization

  • Next Generation Technology

Module 3: Deep Decarbonization (September - October)

Fellows will learn about how to achieve deep decarbonization across sectors: industry, transportation, and buildings. Topics covered will include: examining emissions impacts, priority sectors, emerging and near-term technologies, and the policy and market mechanisms needed to scale solutions.

Sessions in this module include:

  • Decarbonizing Transportation

  • Energy Efficiency in Buildings

  • Industrial Decarbonization

Module 4: Policy and Civic Action (October - November)

This module will explore how policy levers at different levels of government can help address climate goals. Topics covered will include: how local communities are driving sustainable initiatives and solutions, the role of government in forwarding energy and climate laws, and how states can serve as large-scale pilots for energy initiatives and policy.

Sessions in this module include:

  • Federal Policy and Just Transition

  • State Policy, Equity, and Access

  • Local Action

Introduction to Adaptive Leadership

Fellows are introduced to key concepts from adaptive leadership frameworks to understand how to lead through times of complexity and change. Fellows will begin applying these ideas to their own capstone projects and use adaptive leadership tools for Saturday’s mandatory session: Adaptive Leadership Balcony Dance Floor Activity.

Energy Burden, Energy Insecurity, and Energy Poverty

Fellows will have the option to select one or two different sessions that unpack energy burden data across the US and explore the ways that energy insecurity is connected to other intersectional economic and climate justice issues.

Project Finance Workshops

Join the virtual and optional Saturday workshops to learn about why finance is important for clean energy development and deployment, exploring topics like: how investors and financiers balance risk and return, explore key project agreements, and participate in a project finance modeling exercise. The content will cover both 101 and 201 knowledge for fellows who are new to the space and those who want a deep-dive on energy finance.

Capstones

  • Capstone Skills Workshop

  • Capstone Night 1: Fellow Presentations

  • Capstone Night 2 & Graduation: Fellow Presentations

For more information, check out our:

Email celi@cleanenergyleaders.org with any questions.