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State energy pathway · Washington

Start with the energy systems shaping Washington.

Washington generates more hydroelectric power than any other state and powers a growing corridor of large data centers and AI computing facilities. That combination makes Washington students witnesses to the direct connection between hydroelectric generation and the computing energy demands driving the modern economy.

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 Washington

Hydro and Data Center Demand

Washington's hydroelectric system supplies 59 percent of the state's electricity, though a three-year drought has reduced generation to roughly one-third below its 2011 peak. Washington's information economy — data centers, digital services, and computing infrastructure — is now the state's largest economic engine at 16.4 percent of state GDP. Students who understand how drought affects a critical power source while a state's computing industry continues to grow learn what real energy planning requires.

AI Infrastructure and Energy Planning

The growth of AI and cloud data centers in Washington has turned energy planning for large electricity demand from computing into an immediate challenge. Forecasting how much power these facilities will need, and how to grow supply to match, is active work in Washington's utility and planning community. Students who study how data center electricity demand shapes a grid gain a perspective that is directly relevant to the economic forces transforming their state.

Latimer Energy Academy helps Washington students explore how AI energy demand connects to the hydroelectric infrastructure that powers the state's largest economic sector — the information economy at 16.4 percent of state GDP. The governor's Data Center Workgroup is currently studying these energy implications, making this a real policy question students can investigate.

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 Washington

The AI Smart Meter: Future Prediction

Washington's Information sector is the state's largest economic engine at 16.4 percent of state GDP, and the governor's Data Center Workgroup is studying how AI energy demands will shape the state's power grid. Students can answer that same question at the scale of their own experiment: they measure the power cost of running AI on their pocket computer, compare it to their sensing system's power use, and discover that every prediction carries a real energy footprint.

Mission spotlight

The Energy Cost of AI

Washington's governor created a Data Center Workgroup to study how AI affects the state's electricity supply — the same question students can answer at their own scale. Students can measure the power cost of running AI on their pocket computer, compare it to the power their sensing system uses, and discover that prediction is never free. This direct measurement shows what infrastructure planners need to know: how much electricity does AI actually cost to run?

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 Washington.

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 Washington.

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