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State energy pathway · Tennessee

Start with the energy systems shaping Tennessee.

Tennessee's electricity is 42% nuclear—ranked in the top 10 nationally, including Watts Bar Unit 2, which became the nation's first new reactor to open in the 21st century in 2016. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, a major DOE research facility, operates here conducting energy research. TVA, the largest government-owned utility in the US, supplies the state's grid at below-average electricity rates that have driven manufacturing and data center investment. That puts Tennessee students in a state where long-term energy research and new industrial manufacturing are both shaping the region's energy future.

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 Tennessee

Nuclear Research Presence

Oak Ridge National Laboratory conducts research on advanced reactor technologies and grid management that shapes national energy thinking. Tennessee generates 42% of its electricity from nuclear power—ranked top 10 nationally, with Watts Bar Unit 2 among its generation plants—making the state's research directly connected to that operational reality. Students who study how Tennessee links research to real generation scale learn how scientific work drives infrastructure decisions.

Industrial-Scale Power

TVA operates 91% of Tennessee's utility-scale electricity capacity, the nation's largest government-owned utility. That cost advantage—electricity rates ranking 34th nationally at 10.9¢/kWh, well below the US average—has attracted major manufacturing operations in automotive parts, food processing, chemicals, and fabricated metals, along with large data center campuses. Students who study how reliable, cost-effective electricity shapes regional industrial investment learn how infrastructure enables economic decisions at scale.

Latimer Energy Academy helps students in Tennessee model how steady nuclear power and growing industrial demand work together so the state's energy and manufacturing future becomes something they can analyze.

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 Tennessee

The Microgrid: Optimization & Resilience

Tennessee's nuclear generation—42% of the state's electricity, ranked in the nation's top 10—combines directly with TVA's industrial-scale grid operations: 91% of utility capacity. Students can model this real system, comparing how steady nuclear generation supports both large manufacturing operations and data center demands. The connection between reliable nuclear power and industrial electricity demand makes grid modeling immediately tangible.

Mission spotlight

Simulation Meets Reality

Students can compare model predictions with real system behavior, mirroring the research-to-hardware thinking that connects Tennessee's nuclear generation directly to grid-scale industrial power demand. By simulating how Watts Bar Unit 2 and other nuclear plants support both around-the-clock electricity and peak industrial usage, students can see the engineering decisions that make reliable electricity reach factories, data centers, and communities. This simulation-to-reality bridge shows how real nuclear assets manage actual grid complexity.

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 Tennessee.

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 Tennessee.

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