Students in the Alternative Energy and Sustainability class with Mr. Hendrix spent time exploring wind turbines at the 40 MW farm on Sheffield Ridge in Sheffield, VT. Students had the opportunity to speak with the developers of this project about green energy production, wildlife conservation efforts on site, building regulations, job sector growth, balancing commercial engineering with responsible use, and the impact on our local economy of generating this kind of electricity. The presenter also spent time describing career paths in wind energy, what his company looks for in applicants, and how on-the-job training and job advancement works within the industry. Students got to handle and interact with actual decommissioned blades as well as see and experience viable blades attached and in action. They also toured the inside of a wind turbine.
As Mr. Hendrix explained, "Students had just finished designing and testing their own small-scale turbine blades in our MakerSpace, using inquiry based learning to balance construction materials with size, shape, and angular momentum to generate the most electricity. Each group tested and refined their designs and ,as a result of this trip, also got to compare their small scale designs with real life, commercial sizes and shapes.
Many thanks both to Mr. Hendrix and to Chris Baker of HireAbility for creating this opportunity for students in Alternative Energy and Sustainability.
