Private finance where I will be working on plays a crucial role in driving the energy transition. Dollars at work is really going to be where people get to actually implement these ideas.
Stavan Shah '24 “

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Stavan Shah '24

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stavan shah
Stavan Shah

From High School Activism to Energy Finance

Stavan Shah '23, a Government major with a minor in Environmental Science from Burlington, Massachusetts, has made the most of his time at Dartmouth by diving deep into the world of energy and sustainability. His journey, which began with high school activism, has led him to a career in energy finance, showcasing the power of passion and perseverance.

Stavan's interest in energy and climate issues was ignited in high school, sparked by a biology teacher's stark warning about environmental challenges following the 2016 election. This led to his first foray into environmental activism: writing and passing a law in his hometown to ban single-use plastic bags. "I personally internally feel the most fulfilled when I think that I've done something for the cause that I care about, and the cause is energy," Stavan reflects.

Dartmouth: A Multifaceted Approach to Energy Studies

Arriving at Dartmouth with a clear focus, Stavan initially planned an ambitious path, considering a dual major in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) and Engineering. "I thought, 'OK, I'm going to be a very, very ambitious '24, who was going to be a PPE major, selling as many subjects as he could to get all of the angle of energy as well as a dual engineering major, which is obviously impossible,'" Stavan recalls with a laugh.

Key experiences that shaped Stavan's Dartmouth journey include:

  1. Undergraduate Research: As a freshman, Stavan worked in Professor Lee Lynd's biofuel lab, gaining hands-on experience with ethanol biofuels. This opportunity arose from his desire to stay on campus during the COVID-19 restrictions. While he found the work interesting, it helped him realize that the repetitive nature of lab work wasn't his calling. "I wanted to see the results of my labor a little bit quicker than what seemed to happen with the engineering side of energy," Stavan explains.

  2. Congressional Internship: The summer after his freshman year, Stavan interned with Congressman Seth Moulton in Washington, D.C. This experience exposed him to major climate legislation like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Package and what would become the Inflation Reduction Act. "That's actually where I saw some of the first, like large, monumental climate legislation being either written or passed in the US," Stavan notes.

  3. Sustainable Energy Track of the Environmental Studies Minor: This program allowed Stavan to explore energy from multiple angles. He particularly appreciated the interdisciplinary nature of the minor, which included courses on indigenous environmental studies and energy justice. "It didn't exactly teach me about energy transition, but it taught me about the psychology behind this whole transition," Stavan says of a comparative literature course he took as part of the minor.

  4. Future of Energy Systems (ENGS 19.01): Taught by Professor Steven Peterson, this course was "monumentally influential" for Stavan. "Steve was one of those who, like, blended the mix of both, created an amazing class environment and also just knew everything and anything about energy systems," Stavan enthuses. The course challenged him to think about energy systems holistically, considering all inputs and potential bottlenecks in deployment.

  5. TuckLAB: Energy: This program provided Stavan with a deep dive into energy policy, particularly the Inflation Reduction Act, and its impact on the electricity grid. "It gave me this very robust background knowledge but also helped me sort of define my interests within the energy transition," Stavan reflects.

From Policy to Finance

The Irving Institute and Dartmouth's energy community played a crucial role in Stavan's Dartmouth experience. He participated in the Dartmouth Energy Alliance (DEA), sponsored by the Institute, which provided a forum for discussions on current energy issues. The Institute also helped point him toward many of the courses and programs that shaped Stavan's understanding of energy systems and policy.

Stavan's journey led him to realize the significant role of private finance in driving the energy transition. This insight guided his career path towards energy finance. "I realized that private finance plays a crucial role in driving the energy transition. Dollars at work is really going to be where people get to actually implement these ideas," Stavan explains.

His experiences and knowledge gained through Irving Institute programs and courses helped him secure an internship, and subsequently a full-time position, with Blackstone's Infrastructure Secondaries Group in New York. Stavan is excited about the opportunity to analyze a wide range of energy projects. "I now have the chance to look at like 20 or 30 projects a year, and I'm really excited because that will just show me different solar, battery storage... anything else I can get my hands on," he says.

Advice for Future Students

For incoming freshmen interested in energy and sustainability, Stavan offers several pieces of advice:

  1. Join the Sustainability Action Program (SAP) for freshmen.

  2. Explore introductory classes in various departments to find your passion.

  3. Consider the Sustainable Energy track of the ENVS minor offered through the Environmental Studies Department.

  4. Take advantage of the Bloomberg terminals in Feldberg Library to stay updated on energy finance trends. "You can look up things like BNEF which is Bloomberg New Energy Finance and it'll give you reports every hour about either sustainable aviation fuel and its market outlook, or renewable energy credits in California," Stavan explains.