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State energy pathway · Alabama

Start with the energy systems shaping Alabama.

Natural gas leads Alabama's grid at 45% of generation. Nuclear — anchored by Browns Ferry, the third-largest nuclear plant in the country — adds 31% more. Alabama exports roughly a third of its electricity to neighboring states, making grid flow as important a story as generation itself. That mix gives Alabama students a direct way to see how steady generation and regional transmission have to work together.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

See why energy matters hereJump to the matched course

Why Energy Matters in Alabama

Steady Nuclear Output

Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant — on the Tennessee River in northern Alabama — has produced power since 1974 and ranks as the third-largest nuclear facility in the United States at roughly 3,700 MW. Farley Nuclear Plant, near the Florida border, adds two more reactors. Together, Alabama's nuclear fleet supplies 31% of in-state generation and ranks fifth in the nation.

Exporting Power Across State Lines

Alabama generates far more electricity than it uses in-state, exporting roughly a third of its total output to neighboring states. That makes transmission planning — moving power across hundreds of miles to where demand actually is — a core part of how Alabama's grid operates. Students who trace where Alabama's power goes learn how regional grids balance supply and demand across state lines.

Latimer Energy Academy helps students in Alabama work with the same kinds of tradeoffs utilities and communities face so energy infrastructure becomes something they can analyze and explain.

Energy data is from the EIA State Energy Data System, EIA State Electricity Profiles, NCSL State Energy Legislation Database, and state economic development offices.

Start here for Alabama

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Alabama's grid runs on natural gas (45%) and nuclear (31%), with roughly a third of total generation exported to neighboring states — a real-world case where supply, generation and routing decisions, and transmission all interact. That mix makes microgrid optimization concrete: students work with an actual fuel stack, not a hypothetical one.

Mission spotlight

Scenario Building

Students build a grid model using Alabama's real generation data and test how changes in the power mix affect reliability and cost — including what it takes to keep the lights on in a state that sends a third of its electricity out of state.

Included in LEA curriculum

Pilot proof

Students enjoy the work because it feels real.

In January 2026, 39 fourth-grade students in Indianapolis completed every lesson from start to finish — coding real pocket computers (microcontrollers), collecting live energy readings, and presenting findings to an audience.

4.6/5

Student enjoyment

72% of students gave it a 5-star rating

100%

Reported learning something new

Every student who took the survey said they learned something new

39

Students completed the entire course

Every student finished all five lessons, coded a pocket computer (microcontroller), and presented findings

Available to book today

Book the support that fits Alabama.

Whether you want to get LEA into the hands of students this semester, plan for a pilot next year, or just learn more about the state-specific approach, you can book a session with our team to get the support you need.

School or district consultation

Review the state-specific entry point, pilot scope, and what implementation would look like for your classrooms.

Book this path

Founder-led instruction session

Bring Dr. Naeem Turner-Bandele in to teach a project and show what high-quality facilitation looks like with students.

Book this path

Family or community guidance

Get help choosing the right starting point for home learning, after-school use, or a community organization rollout.

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Utility or business partnership call

Discuss local workforce relevance, territory fit, and how we can collaborate to support energy education in your community.

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Find your path

Choose your next step based on how you want to use LEA in Alabama.

Select your path below to see the approach designed for how you will use LEA in Alabama — whether you run a classroom, lead a school, or support a student at home.

Find the right starting point

Schools

Curriculum and professional development for your district

Teachers

Lesson plans and resources for your classroom

Parents

Learn alongside your child with guided family activities

Community

Hands-on energy programs for clubs and community groups

Utilities

STEM outreach and workforce pipeline programs

Businesses

Partner with Latimer Energy Academy to build the energy and technology workforce