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State energy pathway · Virginia

Start with the energy systems shaping Virginia.

Northern Virginia holds the world's largest concentration of data centers, and the state is building a 2,640-megawatt offshore wind project to power the electricity demand that infrastructure keeps adding. That pairing gives Virginia students a front-row view of how AI and cloud computing are becoming one of the largest drivers of energy demand in the country.

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 Virginia

Data Center Alley

Loudoun County in northern Virginia contains more data center square footage than anywhere else on Earth. Those facilities consume enormous and continuous amounts of electricity, require significant cooling systems, and are still growing. Students who understand the energy footprint of large-scale computing learn why Virginia has made data center power one of its most pressing infrastructure questions.

Offshore Wind to Power AI

Virginia is pursuing offshore wind development partly to create a low-emission power supply capable of meeting the growing demands of its data center corridor. That planning problem — matching fast-growing electricity demand with a low-emission generation buildout — is one of the most technically complex in the country. Students who study how Virginia plans for that future learn what it means to forecast and design for energy demand at the scale of AI infrastructure.

Latimer Energy Academy helps students in Virginia understand the energy cost of AI and computing infrastructure so the data center economy shaping their state 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 Virginia

The AI Smart Meter: Future Prediction

Virginia hosts the world's largest data center concentration, making the energy cost of AI and large-scale computing the most visible and relevant starting point for students in the state.

Mission spotlight

The Energy Cost of AI

Students can use AI to forecast energy demand and connect that forecasting work to the data center infrastructure in Data Center Alley, making Virginia's grid challenge visible and concrete.

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 Virginia.

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 Virginia.

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