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State energy pathway · Colorado

Start with the energy systems shaping Colorado.

Vestas manufactures wind turbines in Colorado, where wind and natural gas each supply 29% of the state's electricity—a grid that coal powered at 60% just a decade ago. Colorado students can see that a shift to a different generation mix is not one system disappearing overnight but several systems learning to operate 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.

Why Energy Matters in Colorado

Legacy Energy Systems

Colorado's economy and infrastructure were built on oil, natural gas, and coal production. These industries shaped where cities developed, where power plants were built, and where jobs emerged. Students who understand that history see why today's grid is built on those systems—and why changing electricity sources means understanding real machines and infrastructure, not just policy.

Wind and Storage

Natural gas and wind now supply equal amounts of Colorado's electricity—29% each in 2024. But wind is variable: grid-scale batteries store energy when winds are strong and release it when they're calm. Students who explore these tradeoffs learn how modern grids balance different sources, storage, and reliability at the same time.

Latimer Energy Academy helps students in Colorado test how old and new infrastructure interact so the state's transition becomes something they can reason through with data.

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 Colorado

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Colorado's legacy-to-renewables transition makes comparing how traditional and newer generation types balance out under the same demand scenario the clearest entry point.

Mission spotlight

Tradeoff Tuning

Students adjust resource mix parameters and compare performance, mirroring Colorado's real challenge of phasing in wind and storage alongside legacy infrastructure.

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 Colorado.

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 Colorado.

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

Find the right starting point