As part of a clean energy educational unit, third graders at Coast Episcopal School in Long Beach had the opportunity last Wednesday, September 18 to participate in a video conference with an industry professional from Invenergy, a Chicago-based company that is one of the country’s leading developers and operators of clean energy solutions. Facilitated by Tarah Herbert, Director of Coast Episcopal School’s Seemann Makerspace, the students interacted with Invenergy’s Vice President of Communications John Adams who provided an overview of the company’s projects around the world and then fielded many questions from the independent school’s students.

After providing the CES students with information about Invenergy’s 200+ projects that include wind, solar, and battery storage energy solutions, the children posed questions about the massive turbines that generate energy from wind captured by propeller-like blades. Their curiosity included how the land-based turbines are different from ones constructed on the ocean, the safety of the technicians who service them, and how the movement of the turbine blades are controlled.  Adams explained that ocean-based turbines are nearly twice the height of those constructed on land, the technicians who service the turbines are hired as much for their climbing abilities as for their technical knowledge, and the turbines are monitored 24 hours a day from the Invenergy Control Center located in the company’s Chicago headquarters.  He explained that Invenergy has operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Spain, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Brazil, and their projects provide power to 12.5 million homes across the world. He also explained that the company’s largest developed wind facility, located in north central Oklahoma, utilizes 531 turbines and generates enough electricity to power 440,000 American homes.

According to Makerspace Director Tarah Herbert,  the children’s ability to speak with someone who has direct industry experience broadens the students’ knowledge of the importance of clean energy production.  “Our students are fascinated by wind turbines and being able to speak with a professional who’s actually climbed to the top of one and who interacts daily with other experts drives home their understanding of the industry. In the next week or so, the students will construct their own wind machines that will provide enough power to lift plastic buckets.  The children’s face-to-face interaction with Mr. Adams followed by their own, hands-on exercises are the embodiment of the purpose of our Seemann’s Makerspace.”

Coast Episcopal School has been dedicated to a life-long love of learning by developing the whole child – mind, body and spirit – and providing a joyful, unique and nurturing Judeo-Christian Community that inspires its students to imagine and create a better world. Founded in 1950, CES is a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). For information: Coast Episcopal School, 5065 Espy Avenue, Long Beach, MS, 39560. 228-452-9442. Coastepiscopalschool.org