Sonoma Clean Power (SCP), the public power provider for Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and the Career Technical Education (CTE) Foundation are expanding hands-on clean energy education through a free STEM Kit Lending Library now available to middle and high school teachers throughout the region.

The library marks a new chapter in a partnership between SCP and CTE Foundation that began with SCP’s first grant for Switch EV programs in 2017. The current agreement continues through June 30, 2027. Previously, the organizations placed 10 Switch EV Labs at regional schools, giving students opportunities to build an electric vehicle from start to finish. The new lending model builds on that work with shorter, more affordable projects that fit into existing science, math, engineering, and automotive courses without requiring specialized training for teachers.

Following a beta test during the 2025-26 school year, SCP and CTE Foundation are opening the library to more classrooms this fall, ahead of a formal launch and ribbon cutting planned for January 2027.

In the 2025-26 school year, the lending library pilot and Switch EV initiatives engaged 267 students in grades 8-12. More broadly, SCP-supported STEM and climate programs reached more than 18,000 students throughout its service area that year, reflecting SCP’s commitment to education and workforce development.

“Meeting our clean energy goals will take more than new technology. It will take a skilled local workforce,” said Geof Syphers, CEO of Sonoma Clean Power. “Through partnerships like this one, we can help students begin exploring careers in clean energy and the skilled trades while they are still in school.”

Funded by SCP and administered by CTE Foundation, teachers can check out a set of 10 STEM kits at a time. This allows the kits to circulate among several schools throughout the year, rather than being held by a single classroom for one-time use. The collection currently includes several sets of Switch Relay Lab Kits and one set of Lectec equipment, with an additional set of STEM kits planned for purchase ahead of the program’s formal January launch, which will include a ribbon-cutting event. Across four checkout periods, the library can serve up to 18 classrooms during the 2026-27 school year.

Switch Relay Lab Kits allow students to build and troubleshoot low-voltage circuits using components found in automotive, electrical, and manufacturing systems. Lectec Kits focus on EV design and sustainable transportation as students assemble and test electric skateboard and scooter platforms. Each kit includes teacher resources and a seven-lesson Sustainable STEM curriculum covering engineering, materials science, algebra, data analysis, renewable energy, and fuel systems.

“Every classroom is different, so teachers need resources they can adapt,” said Brandon Jewell, Director of Programs at CTE Foundation. “This library gives educators the flexibility to use the kits in ways that fit their students, schedules, and curriculum.”

The pilot included 64 students at Montgomery High School, the Academy of Innovative Arts in West Sonoma County, and Mendocino High School. All three participating teachers said they would use the kits again and recommend the program to their peers, citing strong student engagement, teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance.

“There is a big difference between reading about electric technology and making it work with your own hands,” said Sean Dalton, Events Manager at Sonoma Clean Power. “Giving students the chance to experiment, make mistakes, and solve problems is what makes this kind of learning stick.”

Teachers can now reserve kits for the fall semester, with the first checkout period beginning August 24. Kits are available for pickup at SCP’s Customer Center in downtown Santa Rosa.

To view available kits, curriculum details, checkout dates, and reservation information, visit the STEM Kit Lending Library.