Students set to compete Saturday in Solar Car Challenge

Hundreds of local students will hit the track this weekend for the return of the Solar Car Challenge, hosted by Clark Public Utilities.

Local elementary, middle and high school students have been working in teams for months to build the pinewood derbylike, solar-powered cars, and will put them to the test from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Hudson’s Bay High School, 1601 E. McLoughlin Blvd.

Last year, for the premiere of the races, the utility expected 20 to 25 teams but ended up fielding nearly 100. This year, Clark Public Utilities says it expects 175 teams.

“The Solar Car Challenge is an engaging and hands-on approach to teaching students at every grade level about renewable energy, engineering and design. It also opens their minds to careers in those fields,” Heather Allmain, communication services manager for the utility, said in a news release. “These teams spent months working on their cars; and Saturday is their opportunity to demonstrate ingenuity and celebrate their efforts.”

Beyond troubleshooting and repair in the pits, the students also put together poster presentations to explain the design behind their cars, and utility and industry professionals will be there to interview the students and talk shop.

The students will race live, with heats based on grade level.

The Solar Car Challenge is made possible through the utility’s Green Lights program. Utility customers can volunteer a monthly contribution to support educational programs, including the Solar Car Challenge, along with greener power development. WaferTech and Columbia Credit Union also lent support.