Rural Energy Futures connects rural learners with energy transition experience and wisdom in their local communities.
The Rural Energy Futures approach:
Recent state and federal investments signal that energy transitions away from traditional fossil fuels are going to be a significant part of social and economic futures. Rural areas, like those in Maine, have gotten a lot of attention as places that have the natural resources to build energy transition infrastructure. But, these investments don’t always consider the ways they might disrupt local cultures, customs, and industries.
Rural Energy Futures directly acknowledges these tensions and opportunities in rural Maine by co-designing and implementing—alongside educators, students, policy leaders, and community workers involved in and affected by energy transitions—a place-based learning experience aligned with state energy transition goals.
In Rural Energy Futures, teachers and students in middle and high schools work with local energy experts to understand the breadth of wisdom and experience that informs local energy transition conversations. Along the way, they build confidence in their STEM identities, realize the STEM expertise of their family and neighbors, and connect with career opportunities that are available locally.
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This project is funded by the National Science Foundation, grant #2342470. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
The High School Rural Energy Futures Program, a place-based learning experience that connects 500 rural high school students with clean energy and energy efficiency careers, is made possible by federal funding administered by the Maine Governor’s Energy Office.
