Written by William Gest
Monday, 03 November 2008
A mobile learning lab featuring solar energy, wind turbines, and fuel cell technology visited Taylor High School Friday as part of an outreach program designed to get students thinking about careers in renewable energy.
Texas State Technical College-Waco, collaborating with the Texas Renewable Energy Education Consortium, created the lab to demonstrate renewable technology. The lab, which can be pulled by truck, is completely powered by solar panels and a wind turbine on the roof. The exhibit includes a solar-powered golf cart and a working demonstration of fuel cell technology
Johnny Sanford, vice president of the Taylor school board, said exposing students to renewable energy gives them an early start in a promising new field.
"Solar energy, to a lot of people, is still just a word," he said. "But if we always do what we always did, we'll always have what we always had."
Teacher Ed Johnson brought his afternoon auto mechanics class to see the lab.
"I'm trying to expose them to higher technology, and this is much better than just showing them a video about solar energy," he said.
While working in the auto mechanics class, senior Chris Currie figured out how to create an air-compression powered car using lead batteries and an electric motor. Currie plans to attend TSTC when he graduates
Inspiring students like Currie to think about career opportunities in renewable technology is the primary mission of the mobile teaching lab, TSTC-Waco Fuel Cell and Renewable Energy Technology Coordinator Sidney Bolfing said.
"You never know, you might spark an interest, if we can just get two or three of them to look at this," he said. "Some may call me and say 'I want to talk to you about this.'"
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