Empowering Teens with Hands-on STEM-Related Energy Career Information

Strategic Insights -

This summer, a coalition of Florida utility companies, energy technology groups, and community organizations came together to provide underprivileged and disadvantaged youth with immersive experiences in STEM-related energy careers through the Youth Energy Academy (YEA) program. The YEA events, hosted by 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), offered career workshops, virtual reality experiences, panel discussions, and live line demonstrations, among other activities. The program aims to empower minority and underserved students to pursue energy careers, providing them with growth opportunities, essential skillsets, and strong earning potential.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Youth Energy Academy (YEA) program is a collaborative effort between Florida utility companies, energy technology groups, and community organizations to provide underprivileged and disadvantaged youth with immersive experiences in STEM-related energy careers.
  • The program aims to empower minority and underserved students to pursue energy careers, providing them with growth opportunities, essential skillsets, and strong earning potential.
  • The YEA events, hosted in multiple locations throughout Florida, included career workshops, virtual reality experiences, panel discussions, live line demonstrations, and other activities to engage students in energy-related STEM fields.
  • Over 2 million residential, commercial, and industrial customers across Florida are served by Duke Energy Florida, one of the YEA program's key partners.
  • Duke Energy is executing an ambitious energy transition, investing in major electric grid upgrades and cleaner generation, including natural gas, nuclear, renewables, and energy storage.

Statistics:

  • 12,500 megawatts of energy capacity is owned by Duke Energy Florida, supplying electricity to 2 million customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida.
  • The YEA program aims to engage over a thousand students in STEM-related energy careers through its career exploration events.
  • The majority of participants reported being more likely to pursue a career in the energy industry following their immersion through the YEA event.
  • Duke Energy has 54,800 megawatts of energy capacity and serves 8.4 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky.

Sources:

  • M2 PRESSWIRE-August 21, 2025-: Florida Utility Companies, Energy Technology Groups and Community Organizations Team Up To Empower Teens With Hands on Stem-Related Energy Career Information
  • duke-energy.com
  • duke-energy.com/news-center
  • aabefl.org/youth-energy-academy
  • M2 Communications disclaimer: M2 PressWIRE (http://www.m2.co.uk) on the world wide web. Inquiries to info@m2.co.uk.