After returning from Iceland, she interned at the Clean Coalition, a California nonprofit that designs and stages community microgrid projects. There she conducted feasibility studies and project development outreach.

“We all use the energy grid every day. It’s so pervasive in our lives. Microgrids provide a lot of resilience to communities, especially in places that are particularly vulnerable to power outages and natural disasters,” she said.

Weinstein recalled her own personal experience of living without electricity after Hurricane Sandy hit her home state of New Jersey in 2012.

“We went weeks without power, and that could have been avoided,” she said, noting that there is much work to be done when it comes to raising awareness about the costs and benefits of producing community-based renewable energy.

“There’s a lot of misinformation out there. Microgrids are economically feasible and can support crucial life-saving energy for hospitals and shelters,” she said.

In addition to her efforts to advance microgrids, Weinstein has directed tree-planting and youth-based forestry initiatives at Your Children’s Trees, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit that plants and cares for trees in public areas in the city. She first joined the organization as an intern, and after a stint as board secretary, served as president. She said the experience of running the nonprofit helped her build leadership and fundraising skills that will be useful throughout  her career.

Weinstein came to YSE to strengthen expertise in renewable energy.

“I’m interested in the intersection of energy and business,” she said. “There are a lot of great people working in this sector. The science is there, and it will prevail.”