EnergyLines April 2020
According to the Indiana Electric Cooperative’s recent workforce development study, over 25 percent of employees in the state’s cooperative utility industry are expected to retire within the next 10 years. Clark County REMC is working closely with a high school on a project in hopes that the experience will inspire students to pursue careers in the electric utility industry.
The semester-long project teaches students about the work Indiana co-ops are doing in Guatemala through Project Indiana.
“Through this project, co-op employees serve as the subject matter experts, but it’s all STEM-focused and helps students meet graduation requirements,” said Brian Omerso, Manager of Marketing at Clark County REMC.
During the spring semester, students are constructing small-scale solar panels and wind-turbine models that generate electricity to power a light bulb. This project shows students how the grid works and what it takes to provide power to communities like their own.
Omerso says the project is designed to show students what kind of impact can be made at home and around the world.
Through the construction of the models, students will use geometry to determine how many power poles to install — including the best location for pole placement. They will apply engineering skills as they design a simple power system. The goal is to construct a power system that will energize a lightbulb.
Clark County REMC employees are committed to their community. This is why they are helping students learn valuable hands-on skills through this project. Co-op employees work with students for three hours each week, helping more than 100 students.