Power Pledge Challenge winners tour MEA's Eklutna Generation Station

PALMER — Nearly 60 students earned a behind-the-scenes tour of MEA’s Eklutna Generation Station as winners of this year's Power Pledge Challenge. According to a news release, Brad Kirr’s second period science class from Gruening Middle School was the regional winner for Eagle River/Mat-Su and Jenny Tennant’s sixth period science class from Palmer Junior Middle School was the statewide winner. In addition to the tour/lunch for the class, Ms. Tennant also took home $1,200 in energy gear for her classroom. “This is a good experience for our students,” said Tennant, “It gets them thinking about their personal energy consumption and start connecting that to what their families are spending on electricity. It’s a cool field trip.”

Over 1,800 eighth grade students from the Mat-Su and Eagle River area recently completed the 2017 Power Pledge Challenge in collaboration with Renewable Energy of Alaska (REAP) and other Alaska utilities.

The Power Pledge Challenge began in 2012, offering energy presentations to 700 students in the Anchorage area. The now statewide initiative is held through support of Alaska Energy Authority, Alaska Energy Light & Power, Alaska Housing Finance Corporation, Chugach Electric Association, ENSTAR Natural Gas Co., Homer Electric Association, Matanuska Electric Association, Municipal Light and Power, and Renewable Energy Alaska Project.