More than 100 middle school students from across the region gathered Friday at Sacramento State University to put their engineering skills to the test during the Regional KidWind Challenge, hosted by SMUD in partnership with KidWind.
Held inside Riverside Hall, the hands-on science, technology, engineering and math competition featured student teams presenting and testing small wind turbines they designed and built themselves. The event offered participants the opportunity to showcase their understanding of renewable energy while competing for a coveted spot at the World KidWind Challenge in Wisconsin, where they would face off against teams from around the globe.
Throughout the day, students demonstrated their fully assembled wind turbines before judges, explaining their design process, blade construction and energy output strategies. The competition challenged teams to generate the most efficient wind energy while applying real-world engineering principles.
SMUD Board Vice President Rob Kerth and Board Member Gregg Fishman attended the event along with SMUD staff, observing student presentations and supporting the region’s next generation of clean energy innovators.
The KidWind Challenge is designed to introduce students to renewable energy concepts and potential clean energy careers. By building and refining wind turbines, participants gain practical insight into how wind power contributes to reducing carbon emissions and supporting long-term sustainability goals.
Sacramento Country Day and Brilliant Beginning (homeschool) earned advancing spots at the regional competition and will move on to represent the Sacramento region at the World KidWind Challenge in Wisconsin.
The competition also aligns with SMUD’s 2030 Zero Carbon Plan, which aims to eliminate carbon emissions from the utility’s electricity production by 2030 while maintaining reliability and keeping rates among the lowest in California.
As the nation’s sixth-largest community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has served Sacramento County for more than 75 years. In 2024, approximately 62 percent of SMUD’s power supply was carbon free, a figure influenced largely by weather conditions and hydroelectric generation levels.
Friday’s competition not only showcased impressive student ingenuity but also highlighted the growing interest in clean energy solutions among young learners eager to shape the future of sustainable power.
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