The Tri-Cities STEM Career Academy (STEM Academy) offers students a look into their future. They'll explore the physics of producing hydropower, design and build hydrogen and solar cars, build and fly a drone, and trace their lunch from farm to market. While completing these STEM challenges, they will learn directly from engineers, hydro and nuclear plant operators, skilled trades workers, scientists, conservationists, and other industry professionals. These professionals will explain future local employment opportunities in clean energy, agriculture, and conservation, plus what skills the students will need and how to get those skills.

Each STEM Academy industry instructor has a story to tell about finding a career that brings them joy every day and enables them to make a difference in our community. Local leaders are working hard to distinguish Tri-Cities as the sustainable clean energy and agriculture hub for Washington. What will your student's contribution be? By the end of the week, they'll be able to write their own story and a plan to build a bridge from high school to a successful STEM career in the Tri-Cities.

The STEM Academy is a Foundational for Water & Energy Education (FWEE) event hosted by local innovators in clean energy, agriculture, and conservation. Benton PUD and Washington Grain Commission serve as anchor sponsors, with partners including Benton Conservation District, Energy Northwest, Franklin Conservation District, City of Richland Energy Services, Educational Service District 123, Kennewick School District, and Benton REA, along with workshops led by industry experts, including Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

You can find the application at www.FWEE.org/Academy.

Benton PUD’s high-voltage safety trailer is available for your next safety event. Utility crews share electrical safety information and demonstrate about the dangers of working around power lines to help students and workers learn about the importance of electrical safety at all times. The high voltage safety trailer was designed and built by our linemen to simulate a live high voltage demonstration.

The demonstration is free during normal Operations work hours, Monday - Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.  We ask for a small donation to our Helping Hands Program for non work hours.  The demonstration typically runs about 30-40 minutes.

To schedule the safety trailer for your next safety event, contact one of our safety representatives at (509) 585-5393.

We partner with the Benton Conservation District to offer Salmon Power.  Salmon Power was designed by staff at the Conservation District and is targeted towards fourth grade classrooms that participate in the Salmon in the Classroom program.  Salmon Power focuses on the role our dams play in providing hydropower and supporting fish migration.