More than 50 high school students representing electric cooperatives across South Carolina, along with nine chaperones will be heading to our state’s capital next week. The students will spend four days in the Columbia area July 9-12 on the third statewide Cooperative Youth Summit.
The students are rising seniors and will get an introduction to cooperatives and the cooperative business model. Students will visit Newberry Electric’s solar farm, Riverbanks Zoo, and the Statehouse, complete with a tour and an explanation on lobbying. They will have the opportunity to hear from and speak with State Rep. Micah Caskey (District 89).
Students will get the chance to step into the shoes of a lineman during a visit to Mid-Carolina Electric. They’ll get to participate in lineworker education and a safety demonstration.
The summit wraps up with a tour of Richland County Landfill’s Gas-to-Energy Facility, followed by an electric vehicle presentation. Students will get the chance to step into a Tesla and learn all about how electric vehicles work.
Soda Pop Co-op is an added bonus on the trip. The students will elect a board and hire a manager to sell snacks and drinks throughout the trip. At the end, students will receive capital credits back, with the knowledge of how a cooperative runs.