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State energy pathway · Arizona

Start with the energy systems shaping Arizona.

Desert solar and Palo Verde nuclear together supply 40% of Arizona's electricity — two sources with very different operating patterns. Arizona's energy story combines desert solar with one of the most powerful nuclear plants in the nation. Students who understand how two very different sources keep the same grid stable are learning infrastructure thinking at full scale.

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

Why Energy Matters in Arizona

Desert Solar at Scale

Arizona ranks in the top five states nationally for installed solar capacity, with nearly 9,000 megawatts across utility-scale and rooftop systems. Students who work with generation patterns and changing demand see how solar becomes part of a real grid rather than a slogan.

Nuclear Power at Scale

Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station generates more than a quarter of Arizona's electricity — and it is the second-largest nuclear plant in the United States. When students understand how nuclear power works, how electricity moves through transmission lines, and how a single facility powers millions of people, they see the direct connection between local infrastructure and regional power systems.

Latimer Energy Academy gives Arizona students direct experience with the energy challenges their state manages every day: balancing nuclear, solar, and summer heat demand. Through the microgrid project, students design and test power systems, run real-world scenarios, and see how engineering shapes the grid that powers their communities.

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 Arizona

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Arizona brings together extreme heat, strong solar resources, and a nuclear plant that supplies more than a quarter of the state's electricity. This project gives students a clear way to compare resource mixes under real power-system constraints.

Mission spotlight

Scenario Building

Students test multiple grid designs under the same conditions and see how heat-driven demand changes which system performs best.

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 Arizona.

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.

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Founder-led instruction session

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

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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 Arizona.

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

Find the right starting point