Lexington County educators complete Santee Cooper’s Energy Educators Institute summer session

Moncks Corner, SC - Santee Cooper provided South Carolina educators with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in critical fields of the energy industry through its annual Energy Educators Institute at the Wampee Conference Center in Pinopolis, S.C.

“I enjoyed listening to all the presenters,” said third and fourth grade teacher Carolyn Cooley of Sandhills Elementary School. “They were very knowledgeable and passionate about Santee Cooper and their areas of expertise.”

Serving as the institute’s 33rd annual series, the 2018 session hosted 50 state educators who received certification following their participation in the week-long, graduate-level course. The participating teachers received classroom preparation materials and a better understanding about complex, energy-related topics, including the production, opportunities and challenges of renewable energy.

Santee Cooper held two sessions throughout the month of July. Both of the four-day institutes included trips through the lock at Jefferies Generating Station and visits to Old Santee Canal Park and Cross Generating Station.

Throughout the week, teachers also participated in learning activities and unit planning sessions and connected directly with Santee Cooper experts on topics such as energy efficiency and conservation, renewable energy, environmental resources, power generation, transmission, distribution, electric safety, water quality and utility economics.

On what she gained from the institute, ninth through 11th grade teacher Anna Parks of Airport High School said, “I am bringing back some curriculum resources to help students learn about the diversity of career opportunities available to them in the electric utility industry.”

Teachers represented 16 South Carolina counties including Berkeley, Charleston, Chesterfield, Dorchester, Edgefield, Georgetown, Greenville, Horry, Lee, Lexington, Orangeburg, Richland, Spartanburg, Sumter, Union, and York.

Santee Cooper is South Carolina’s largest power provider, largest Green Power generator and the ultimate source of electricity for 2 million people across the state. Through its low-cost, reliable and environmentally responsible electricity and water services, and through innovative partnerships and initiatives that attract and retain industry and jobs, Santee Cooper powers South Carolina. To learn more, visit www.santeecooper.com.