What Is The Energizing Student Potential Program?

The Exelon Foundation, and Exelon Generation, in partnership with the National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project, in 2018 launched Energizing Student Potential, a STEM-focused energy program for grades 4 – 8 in their respective communities. This program brings together standards-based curriculum for use in the classroom or in afterschool programs in public and private schools. The program will help schools meet state standards for STEM, engage students in learning about energy within STEM, and help energize the energy workforce of tomorrow. Already in place in Exelon communities in Illinois (ComEd), Philadelphia (PECO), and Washington, D.C. (Pepco), the program has reached hundreds of thousands of students and hundreds of schools and teachers. We are pleased to bring this program to our Exelon Generation communities as well.

Energizing Student Potential is designed to help educators bring energy into the classroom and to provide all the tools and resources necessary for students and teachers to learn together, explore energy together, and teach their local communities about energy.


Teachers and students engage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities in the classroom while learning fundamental principles of energy use and conservation. Students learn best when engaged in inquiry learning — and the activities and explorations included in the program allow them to think, explore, share, and develop a profound respect for energy and the world around them.

We know that teaching others helps us learn as well and the Kids Teaching Kids philosophy woven throughout The NEED Project curriculum helps keep students of all learning styles engaged and excited to learn. The lessons and projects in this program are designed to allow students to teach their peers as well as their local community.

We hope you will join us for this exciting opportunity!

Offerings for School Year 2022-2023

  • Teacher Training Workshops on a variety of energy topics – including the Science of Energy, Forms and Transformations, Energy Sources, Electricity, Transportation, Climate Science and Energy Efficiency.
  • Teacher selected kits and classroom curriculum valued at $1,000.
  • Opportunity for a mini-grant of up to $400 available via application to support additional ESP supplies or resources for the classroom.
  • An optional ESP Energy Fair kit for students to create an Energy Fair to share their knowledge with each other and the local community.
  • Resources for direct to student content – YouTube and Instagram Live sessions that connect to an ESP content area – electricity, solar, wind, efficiency, nuclear, as well as links to energy videos, virtual tours and more.
  • Opportunity for Student Energy Team Trainings for small group of students (clubs) with NEED’s Certified Energy Manager and other staff on managing energy use in the school (and in the home) Topics can include general energy, energy efficiency, engineering, and more.
  • Opportunities to request Exelon volunteers to chat with students to learn more about energy careers.
  • Exelon-wide Energy Innovation Challenge for students to “opt in” for participation within a class or individually

Program Resources

ESP Login Site
ESP Program Welcome & Details PowerPoint
Multimedia Release
2022-2023 Exelon Innovation Challenge Sign Up (Coming Soon)
Apply for the ESP Mini-Grant (optional)
Energy Fair Box Sign Up (optional – deadline to sign up 3/1/23)
Energy Fair Box – What’s Inside?
Energy Fair Planning Tips (PPT) – NOTE: The Energy Fair is optional and may be virtually adapted
Educational Energy Audit Sign Up (optional – coming soon)
What is an Energy Audit? (PowerPoint) & Virtual Energy Audit Option (PDF)
Teacher Evaluation (Coming Spring 2023)
Student Evaluation (Coming Spring 2023)

Curriculum Resources

NEED Curriculum Guides – Science of Energy, Solar, Wind, Hydropower, Oil and Natural Gas, Nuclear, Energy Management, & MORE!
Energy Information Administration, State Data
PA Electric Connections
MD Electric Connections
NY Electric Connections
IL Electric Connections
Evaluation and Assessment
NGSS Correlation and Support
Science of Electricity
Interactive Energy Simulations
Excellent Energy Engineering
Energy Expo
Digital Energy Presentations