Solar-Powered Learning: Dominion Energy Supports K-12 Clean Energy Curriculum

U.S. solar installations and solar energy-generating capacity have seen a substantial increase over the past decade. By the end of 2019, the United States had 71.3 gigawatts of photovoltaic (PV) solar capacity—enough to power 13.5 million houses. Careers in solar energy have grown in step with this increased capacity: from 2011 to 2018, U.S. solar jobs increased 11-percent annually—six times faster than the overall employment rate for that time period (See Jobs in Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Resilience (2019)). As renewable forms of energy like solar take a growing share of the United States energy portfolio and workforce, school administrators are considering how to incorporate renewable energy into lesson plans and give students opportunities to learn about careers in the field.

Dominion Energy, a utility company serving 7.5 million customers over 18 states, is supporting these efforts. Since 2015, Dominion Energy has collaborated with the National Energy Education Development Project (NEED) to bring solar energy arrays and renewable energy lesson plans to 34 educational institutions across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina through the Solar for Students program. Dominion Energy provides participating schools with a 1.2-kilowatt photovoltaic system installation (enough electricity to power up to 18 desktop computers), software to monitor energy generation data, and a “Solar-bration” opening ceremony after installation is complete. NEED provides educational materials and teacher training for a year-long energy curriculum. The curriculum covers how solar and PV technology work, the different forms of energy, how electricity is generated, and how utilities supply energy.

“Students are learning about solar and all that solar is available to do for us,” says Mary Spruill, Executive Director of NEED. She emphasized the program’s Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) focus, and noted that the program also exposes K-12 students to an expanding career field. “Part of the evaluation from teachers includes the question ‘Have you seen your students engaging with renewable energy careers?’ and the answer is always ‘Yes, yes, yes’.”

Enrique Diaz, a Communications Specialist at Dominion Energy, noted that the Solar for Students program will be “monumental for changing attitudes” towards clean energy, and will encourage students to consider a career in the field. Diaz added that he thought solar and renewable energy would become more popular in the coming years as attitudes change. Dominion Energy itself is embracing clean energy and plans on having net-zero emissions by 2050.

Some schools are also using the solar arrays to expand broader sustainability programs, by building gardens or greenhouses near the solar installations, for instance. As Spruill said with enthusiasm, “There’s so much that’s fun about it all. It’s so rewarding and kids get so much out of it, and a lot of communities showcase their school.”

Once the pandemic has passed, the Solar for Students program will continue to expand in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia. While Solar for Students is notable for the number of participating institutions and its utility-industry partnership, other districts are offering innovative programs—such as Philadelphia’s “Find Your Power” initiative—that expand renewable energy curriculums to enhance STEM lesson plans and broaden career opportunities for their students. As Spruill noted, in the renewable energy field “there’s an opportunity for everyone.”

Author: Uma Atre