The water power community needs to recruit a wide array of bright and talented minds to form the next generation of workers. Exposing students to opportunities in the waterpower industry and creating a clear path for them to consider joining the waterpower workforce is a critical mission. Here is what we have taking place at Clean Currents 2024 to explore, learn, and act on this issue:
Monday, October 7th: Clean Energy Career Expo at Portland State University – Connecting University and Trade School Students with Industry
Tuesday, October 8th: Deep Dive Workshop: Building Workforce Connections and Illuminating Pathways in the Water Power Sector
Wednesday, October 9th:
- Hydropower Workshop for Middle School and High School Teachers in the Portland, Oregon area (teachers spend the last hour of the workshop in CC Central)
- Hydropower Workshop for High School Students in the Portland, Oregon area (includes a visit to CC Central)
Take a look at these organizations doing this great work to bring in the next generation of people into hydropower. And, check out this easy-to-digest list of existing programs, resources, and solutions that are helping students to learn and to get excited about water power technologies and to consider careers in this industry.
What is NEED?
The NEED Project designs and delivers teacher-tested educational materials, evaluation techniques and tools, recognition of student achievement, and professional development for educators. NEED materials and training programs provide comprehensive, objective information about the scientific concepts of energy and the sources of energy – their use and their impact on the environment, the economy and society.
What is the Foundation for Water and Energy Education?
The role of hydropower in meeting the Northwest’s environmental and social equity goals is more important than ever. The societal benefits of hydropower as a low-cost, affordable source of electricity continue. Residents of the Northwest also take great pride that hydropower is a renewable and clean energy source replenished naturally by the water cycle that does not contribute to air pollution.
Today’s generation must also address the challenge of climate change and reducing carbon emissions. For this reason, states and utilities across the Northwest are committing to carbon-free electricity. The foundation for accomplishing this goal rests on hydropower. Already, this carbon-free source of power provides over half the Northwest’s capacity to generate electricity.
As wind, solar, and other carbon-free resources are added to the power grid, hydropower plays another critical role. Because the wind doesn’t always blow and the sun doesn’t always shine, the ability of many hydropower projects to store and release water when it’s most needed makes the supply of electricity across the region far more reliable.
FWEE’s web site, materials, training, and other outreach materials provide teachers, students, opinion leaders, and other stakeholders with in-depth, balanced knowledge about the role hydropower plays in our quickly evolving power generation future. Our outreach includes how hydropower is generated, it’s unique role in meeting our region’s power needs, how it compliments and works with other resources, new innovations and technologies, and environmental protection and more!
What is the Bonneville Environmental Foundation?
Bonneville Environmental Foundation is an entrepreneurial non-profit that sits at the intersection of energy, water and carbon. Founded in 1998 and based in Portland, Oregon we have worked to expand solar energy access for low-income communities, restore watersheds and floodplains across the Pacific Northwest, assist corporations in meeting their water and carbon goals and provide professional development for STEM educators for over 25 years.
What is Clean Energy Bright Futures?
Clean Energy Bright Futures is a program of Bonneville Environmental Foundation that provides integrated, grid-based energy education to advance energy literacy and STEM/CTE education nationally in partnership with consumer-owned and investor-owned utilities, school districts, STEM organizations, Tribes, corporations, renewable energy developers and philanthropic organizations. Since 2002, CE has provided over $1.2M in STEM kits for 362,000 students from 2,00 schools and provided over 19,000 hours of professional development for 5,600 educators.
What is the Hydropower Foundation?
The Hydropower Foundation is dedicated to ensuring hydropower’s sustainable contribution to a clean energy future through research and development of hydropower as a clean and beneficial renewable resource. Funded by contracts, grants, events, industry sponsorships, and memberships, the Foundation actively engages and serves the clean energy industry by supporting work in education, research, and workforce development.
Many of the Foundation’s projects and programs include the participation of post-secondary educators and student researchers. The Foundation strives to maintain strong connections with academia at the university, community college, and trades level in various disciplines.
