This summer, the Youth Energy Academy (YEA) organized a series of events across Florida aimed at introducing teens to careers in the electric utility and STEM fields. The program was a collaborative effort involving Duke Energy Florida, Ocala Electric, SECO Energy, Orlando Utilities Commission, Siemens Energy, Gainesville Regional Utilities, and the Florida Chapter of the American Association of Blacks in Energy (AABE).
The YEA events featured interactive activities and discussions for underprivileged and disadvantaged youth. Students were able to tour utility facilities for direct exposure to the energy sector.
Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president, stated: “The energy industry is full of diverse and engaging career paths, ones that provide growth opportunities, an essential skillset and strong earning potential. The Youth Energy Academy is the best place for students to explore these rewarding options and discover how they can make a real impact in their community and beyond.”
Locations for this summer’s YEA included St Petersburg at the Duke Energy Bartow Power Plant; Ocala at the Lillian Bryant Community Center; Orlando and Winter Garden; and Gainesville at Gainesville Regional Utilities Complex. Each event involved partnerships with local utilities.
Participants engaged in workshops on careers, virtual reality experiences, panel discussions, games, live line demonstrations, and tours of generation sites.
After each event, students completed surveys. Most respondents indicated they were more likely to consider a career in energy after participating.
Duke Energy Florida supplies electricity to 2 million customers across 13,000 square miles in Florida. Its parent company Duke Energy serves 8.4 million electric customers across several states and owns 54,800 megawatts of capacity. The company is investing in grid upgrades and cleaner energy sources as part of its transition strategy (Duke Energy News Center).
More information about YEA can be found at aabefl.org/youth-energy-academy.
