For more information:
Erica Erland, Clark Public Utilities
360-992-3238, [email protected]
CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES HOSTS FIRST SOLAR CAR CHALLENGE, AN ENGINEERING AND DESIGN COMPETITION FOR LOCAL STUDENTS
VANCOUVER, WA – March 6, 2018 – Powered by bright ideas, Clark Public Utilities is hosting its inaugural Solar Car Challenge for nearly 100 teams of local elementary, middle and high school students at Hudson’s Bay High School on March 10, 2018 from 8a.m. to 3 p.m.
“When we shifted our educational focus from installing large-scale solar arrays on local schools to training teachers on interactive renewable energy activities, we didn’t expect this kind of enthusiasm,” said Heather Allmain, communication services manager for Clark Public Utilities. “The Solar Car Challenge has really been embraced as a way to engage students in hands-on learning with real-world technology!”
With a focus on renewable energy engineering and design, the Solar Car Challenge helps prepare students for clean energy careers and includes:
• A showcase of months of engineering and design work, culminating in the construction of a working, custom hybrid battery solar car
• Live races with team heat races
• Team interviews with Clark Public Utilities energy industry professionals
• Student poster presentations showing the engineering design process for the solar car builds
The Solar Car Challenge is made possible through voluntary contributions to the utility’s Green Lights program. Green Lights supports local educational efforts led by the Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s CE – Clean Energy, Bright Futures program, formerly Solar 4R Schools, and funds development of renewable energy resources like wind, solar, biomass and geothermal projects.
“Clark Public Utilities has a unique relationship with this community and an unwavering commitment to helping local students experience new technologies, especially in the energy field,” said Chaun MacQueen, Director of CE-Clean Energy, Bright Futures. “The success of our teacher trainings and the incredible response to the Solar Car Challenge is really a testament to the confidence local teachers have in Clark Public Utilities as an active partner in STEM education initiatives.”
Utility customers and local businesses can support CE – Clean Energy, Bright Futures program and future Solar Car Challenges by signing up for Green Lights for as little as $1 per month. Contributions are voluntary, flexible and can be stopped at any time. For more information visit www.ClarkPublicUtilities.com.
About Clark Public Utilities
Clark Public Utilities is a customer-owned public utility that provides electric service to more than 195,000 customers throughout Clark County. The utility also provides water service to about 34,000 homes and businesses in the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek, Lakeshore, Hockinson, Brush Prairie, La Center, Meadow Glade, Amboy and Yacolt areas.
About CE – Clean Energy. Bright Futures
CE is a national clean energy, career connected education program from Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Together with schools, educators and industry, we strive to build a clean energy future to ensure that our communities and the environment are thriving and resilient. We work to expand access to opportunities for all students regardless of their geography, gender, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status. CE is funded by corporations, regional utilities, and philanthropic organizations. To date, our funders have impacted more than 150,000 students nationwide through CE programming. For more information, visit CEbrightfutures.org.
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