ESP is a project in partnership with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project that aims to provide programs for schools, students and teachers to engage them within areas of the scientific and technology industries relating to energy production and distribution. This program focuses on students that are between grades five and eight.
Included within the partnership are: ComEd, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, BP America and the Exelon Foundation.
“ESP is an investment in energy education, our students and our local communities,” John R. Rosales, commissioner at the Illinois Commerce Commission and former director at City Colleges of Chicago, said. “This program will give more students access to STEM education and will help them make connections, understand how the world works and develop a strong foundation that will prepare them for a successful future. The six utilities’ collaboration on this project is commendable, as is their commitment to ensuring all students in our area can have access to educational programs that will help to nurture, grow and train our future engineers and innovators.”
On Wednesday, the program initiated with STEM and energy workshops that will last for two days at the Museum of Science and Industry and will have events and activities planned for the remainder of the school year.
Exelon Generation operates three nuclear power plants, twelve fossil power plants, two landfill gas plants and one pumped storage hydroelectric power plant in the state.