The People Powering What’s Next
Each summer, LevelTen Energy welcomes a group of outstanding undergraduate students into our Energy Scholars Program. These Scholars spend 10 weeks immersed in the world of renewable energy — working alongside our team, building technical skills, and exploring career paths in sustainability.
Throughout the summer, Scholars attend educational sessions led by LevelTen and our partners, receive one-on-one mentorship, and connect with professionals across the clean energy industry. Each Scholar takes on meaningful, real-world projects as part of a paid internship designed to build both confidence and experience.
To make the program as accessible as possible, we provide housing through the University of Washington, travel accommodations, and a support system that helps students thrive professionally and personally.
This year, their stories feel especially meaningful. In a time of uncertainty across the industry, these Scholars remind us why this work matters — and why we must keep investing in the people who will carry it forward. Whether you're a future employer, mentor, or fellow changemaker, we hope you’ll see in them the same spark tha inspires us to keep going.
Meet Paulo Araujo
Bennington College | Economics and Data Analytics
Class of 2026
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Tell us a little about yourself, Paulo.
I’m really enthusiastic about making the clean energy transition more efficient and accessible. Right now, I’m an Energy Scholar at LevelTen Energy, where I’m learning more about clean energy markets and analytics. Last summer, I interned at Renew Energy Partners and worked on ongoing clean energy project finance. I’m excited to keep learning and connect with people who can share insight into the industry and different career paths.
Why are you passionate about sustainability and clean energy?
I’m passionate about sustainability because of personal experience. I grew up watching my hometown get hit by natural disasters over and over again. That made me curious about the bigger picture and motivated me to be part of a solution. Renewable energy offers a real solution to a cleaner and more stable future.
What’s a favorite project you’ve worked on as a student?
Last term, I worked on an empirical research paper that explored how economic class and racial segregation affect poverty in Georgia, and how those structural inequalities shaped the impact of COVID-19. I collected and cleaned thousands of data points, ran regression and risk analyses in Excel, and leaned on feedback from my classmates and professor to strengthen the final paper. It pushed me to ask hard questions, dig into the data, and think critically about complex systems.
How do you recharge?
Working out is a big part of how I recharge. I try to stay consistent with it five times a week. If I can’t make that happen, I like to catch up with friends or just hang out and unwind.
Thanks Paulo!
We’re honored to support each of our Scholars on their clean energy journey and excited to see the impact they’ll make in the years ahead.
Connect with Paulo Araujo on LinkedIn to follow their journey or learn more about the Energy Scholars Program.