Progress Energy Florida and the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) are partnering with Florida public schools to educate students about the possibilities of hydrogen as an alternative energy fuel.

"Hydrogen: The Power and the Potential" is a student curriculum initiative that envisions the use of a variety of energy alternatives - such as hydrogen - while understanding the importance of conservation. The program will initially involve the following eight schools:

Nature Coast Technical High School - Brooksville
Polk Avenue Elementary School - Lake Wales
J.W. Mitchell High School - New Port Richey
Lakewood High School - St. Petersburg
Lake Howell High School - Winter Park
Durance Elementary School - Orlando
Tuscawilla Middle School - Oviedo
Oak Ridge High School - Orlando

Teachers from these schools will participate in training facilitated by FSEC. The teachers will review current curriculum and other information available on hydrogen to develop a unique curriculum that aligns with the Sunshine State Standards and their individual classes.

As they learn about hydrogen and alternative energy issues, students will be asked to organize the Youth Energy Solutions (YES) Summit. Scheduled for spring 2006, the summit will bring together all of the educational partners and participants to discuss what they have learned in the preceding year and to share their vision for the future.

The "Hydrogen: The Power and the Potential" student curriculum will serve as a model that could expand to other schools in the future.