Electricity 101: Students Explore Cardinal Power Plant

On April 23, students from Marysville High School and Fairbanks High School had the opportunity to experience “Electricity 101” during a tour of the Cardinal Power Plant in Brilliant, Ohio.

The trip included 35 students, teachers, URE staff members and board members who traveled to the plant to learn more about how electricity is generated and delivered to homes and businesses across Ohio. In total, 199 students from electric cooperatives across the state participated in this year’s educational tour.

During the visit, students learned about the history of electric cooperatives in Ohio, the process of generating electricity and the important role reliable power plays in everyday life. The tour provided an inside look at the scale and complexity of the Cardinal Power Plant, one of Ohio’s remaining coal-fired power plants and a key part of Buckeye Power’s diverse generation portfolio.

Students toured portions of the facility, observed plant operations and learned how electricity moves from generation facilities through transmission and distribution systems before reaching cooperative members.

In addition to learning about power generation, students explored career opportunities available within the electric cooperative industry. Representatives discussed careers in engineering, linework, information technology, communications, environmental compliance, operations, member services and other areas that support the delivery of safe and reliable electricity.

Educational opportunities like the Cardinal Power Plant tour help connect classroom learning with real-world experiences while giving students a better understanding of the cooperative business model and the people who help power local communities every day.

URE appreciates the partnership with Ohio’s Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power in making this experience possible for local students.