KSUT Regional

National Laboratory Teaches SW CO Kids About Renewables
04.21.04

BAYFIELD, CO (2004-04-21) The United States currently relies heavily on coal, oil, and natural gas for its energy. But as nonrenewable fossil fuels dwindle, become more expensive or environmentally damaging, there's been more attention on renewable energy resources such as wind and solar energy which experts say are constantly replenished and will never run out. Over the last few days, students in Southwest Colorado had the chance to learn more about it when a recently completed renewable energy education vehicle visited Durango and Bayfield.

NAT SOUND: clicking .PUT THE BLACK INTO THE BLACK TERMINAL AND THE RED INTO THE RED TERMINAL ..NOW PICK UP A SOLAR PANEL .

Yesterday a representative from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory - or N-REL - demonstrated the use of hydrogen power generation to students at the Bayfield Middle School.

NAT SOUND: WE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF HYDROGEN HERE, AND YOU PLUG IT IN AND YOUR CAR WILL BE RUNNING ON ELECTRICITY. (running motor)

Nearby, another group was using their own energy and solar energy to operate a few different apparatus - a light bulb, a fan and a buzzer.

NAT SOUND: buzzing

The students had traveled to Bayfield from Pagosa Springs along with 6th grade science teacher Tracey Shank to visit the renewable energy education vehicle.

SHANK: THE INVITATION WAS TOO GOOD TO PASS UP, TO TEACH KIDS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY, TO LET THEM PARTICIPATE AND SEE FOR THEMSELVES THE DIFFERENCES AND IT'S A NICE OUTING.

Cynthia Howell directs the office of educational programs for the N-REL. She explained the van took about 2 years to complete. It was built in partnership with BP America, and it hit the road after it was completed just this past September.

HOWELL: AND OUR INTENT HERE AS A PARTNERSHIP WAS TO COME TOGETHER AND PRODUCE A TEACHER AND CONSUMER RESOURCE ON WHEELS BASICALLY WHICH WE CALL RENEWABLE ENERGY AND EFFICIENCY EDUCATION ON WHEELS AND TAKE IT TO THE PUBLIC. AND WE'RE DOING A MASSIVE TOUR TO SCHOOLS. WE'VE BEEN IN ALBEQUERQUE DOING THE ALBEQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE'VE ACTUALLY DONE THE WESTERN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE DOWN THERE AS WELL. WE CAME OVER TO DURANGO, WE'VE DONE A FULL DAY OVER IN THE DURANGO SCHOOLS AND WE CAME OVER HERE TO DO BAYFIELD, PAGOSA BEFORE WE RETURN BACK TO GOLDEN WHICH IS OUR HOME. AND THEN FROM THERE WE'LL ACTUALLY BE GOING A WEEK LATER TO WASHINGTON DC.

There the secretary of Energy will formally present the vehicle publicly as an educational tool. The vehicle itself is powered by a hybrid solar-wind energy system and includes demonstrations of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology.

NREL was established as the Solar Energy Research Institute (SERI) in 1974. George Bush designated it a national laboratory in 1991. The laboratory has 50 areas of scientific investigation. It's mission is to develop renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies and practices, advance related science and engineering, and transfer knowledge and innovations to address the nation's energy and environmental goals.