/PUBLIC.GIF)
Date: 4/25/00
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Elizabeth Plasket, UNI Center for Energy and Environmental Education, (319) 273-6012
Dan Vaudt, Alliant Energy Electrathon Race Director, (319) 273-7575
Mike Hay, I-RENEW, (319) 235-7131
Note to editors/news directors: Listed at the end of the release are the schools participating in the
race – each has a contact person and phone number listed.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The 4th Annual Alliant Energy Electrathon will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 13, at Hawkeye Downs Speedway, Cedar Rapids. This electric car endurance contest involves small one-person electric cars built by teams of high school students.
According to Elizabeth Plasket, energy educator at the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education (CEEE), the goal of the event is to promote energy efficiency and demonstrate the viability of cars powered by electricity. High school teams build original electric cars and then compete to see which team's car can cover the most distance in one hour. The race's rules are designed to promote safety, fairness and creative solutions to engineering and fabrication issues.
“The Alliant Energy Electrathon program and race provides a meaningful way for young people to evaluate energy alternatives and learn to use problem solving discipline to design and build an efficient vehicle,” said Plasket. “The program also helps educate teachers, students, parents, community leaders and the public about the link between energy consumption and environmental consequences.”
In addition to designing, building, testing and racing a car, each team also must raise funds, obtain donated equipment, handle public relations tasks and report on their progress monthly. The event is sponsored by Alliant Energy, the CEEE and the Iowa Renewable Energy Association (I-RENEW).
Also at the race will be the Iowa State University Solar Team Car, an Earth Year 2000 display, a John Deere electric Gator, solar ovens, electric bikes and scooters, and the Iowa RENEW Solar Trailer.
The CEEE was established at the University of Northern Iowa in 1994 to develop and support energy and environmental education for schools and the general public. I-RENEW is a not-for-profit organization and was founded in 1992 to promote and implement renewable energy and energy conservation as pollution prevention alternatives. Alliant Energy is a major energy service company that provides affordable and reliable electric, natural gas, water and steam energy to its customers in four Midwestern states.
For more information, contact Elizabeth Plasket at (319) 273-6012, or Dan Vaudt, Alliant Energy Electrathon race director at (319) 273-7575.
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Iowa high schools participating in the Alliant Energy Electrathon
*American Institute of Business Nathan Flatgard (319) 721-8760
Bayfield Schools Dave Doering (715) 779-3201
Cedar Rapids Kennedy Barry Wilson (319) 398-2251
Cedar Rapids Prairie Chuck Hining/Mike Fendley (319) 848-5380
Forest City High School Jerry Swenson/Dan Meyer (319) 585-2324
Hubbard-Radcliffe High School Marv Thomas (515) 864-3327
Maquoketa Valley (Delhi) Greg Drew (319) 922-2091
Marcus-Meriden-Cleghorn Schools Dave Pearson (712) 376-4172
Muscatine High School John Root (Muscatine Power) (319) 263-2631
Pomeroy-Palmer High School Russ Budding/Don VanGorkom (712) 468-2268
Real World Education Duane Liddle (319) 352-6584
St. Ansgar High School George Herman (515) 736-4720
*College division participant
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