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State energy pathway · Iowa

Start with the energy systems shaping Iowa.

In 2024, wind supplied 63% of Iowa's electricity — the highest wind power share of any U.S. state. That makes managing a variable resource Iowa's defining grid challenge. That gives Iowa students a real example of how a high-renewable grid still depends on balancing, forecasting, and system coordination.

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 Iowa

Wind at Scale

Iowa ranks first among all U.S. states for wind power share, meaning wind is not a supplement to the grid — it is the dominant source. That abundance creates a real challenge: wind output changes with weather, so the grid has to balance supply and demand hour by hour. Students who understand this learn why high-renewable systems still depend on careful coordination.

Moving Wind Across Distance

Iowa's wind farms are spread across rural land far from the cities and industries that use the electricity. Getting that power where it's needed means moving it reliably across long distances and timing delivery to match actual use. Students who work through these distance and timing trade-offs learn why transmission infrastructure — not just the turbines themselves — determines whether Iowa's wind advantage reaches end users dependably.

In Latimer Energy Academy's Microgrid project, Iowa students simulate a wind-heavy grid, build a working microgrid, and argue a rate case — connecting the state's real balancing challenge to hands-on engineering and policy decisions.

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 Iowa

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Iowa's 63% wind generation share — the highest of any U.S. state (EIA 2024) — makes balancing variable output across time the most locally visible and instructive design challenge for students.

Mission spotlight

Tradeoff Tuning

Students vary the resource mix, demand profile, and storage strategy in a simulation model, then produce an improved scenario with supporting evidence.

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 Iowa.

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.

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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 Iowa.

Select your path below to see the approach designed for how you will use LEA in Iowa — 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