Oregon’s Future Energy Experts Compete in Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge
On March 12, the Oregon Department of Energy was proud to sponsor the 2026 Oregon Coast Renewable Energy Challenge at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport. Students from public elementary and middle schools along the coast created their own renewable solar, wind, or wave energy devices to compete for best design.
ODOE Director Janine Benner kicked off the event with a morning keynote presentation, walking students, educators, and parents through the Oregon Energy Strategy. The energy strategy presents five pathways that will help Oregon reach its climate and energy policy goals. When asked which of the five pathways – energy efficiency, clean electricity, electrification, low-carbon fuels, and resilience – students thought were most important, multiple hands raised for each pathway. “You are all right,” Janine said after the audience weighed in. “It will take actions in each of the pathways for us to reach our goals.”
The challenge is designed to educate students about renewable energy options that could be built in and provide energy for their own coastal communities (and beyond). The students developed presentation boards alongside their devices, which were tested in water tanks or an indoor wind tunnel.
ODOE sponsored the event alongside Oregon State University, Oregon Sea Grant, and Oregon Coast STEM Hub. Janine was joined by ODOE Communications Director Jenny Kalez to serve as judges for some of the projects – both were impressed by the creativity and teamwork shown by the students. Middle school first place solar winners “Jewell’s Joules” made a solar-powered tractor boat that could move on water and on land. Wind device testers worked together to adjust turbine blades to maximize power output in the indoor wind tunnel.
We look forward to someday working with this future group of energy experts!
Wave
Middle School
1st: Wave Warriors (Warrenton Middle School)
2nd: Wave Team 2 (Newport Middle School)
Solar
Elementary
1st: Mega Marshmallows (Tillamook School District STEM Club)
2nd: Ultra Power (Tillamook School District STEM Club)
Middle School
1st: Jewell’s Joules (Jewell School)
2nd: Sunshines (Warrenton Middle School)
Wind
Elementary
1st: Blue Jays (Crestview Heights Elementary)
2nd: Blowing Lightning (Sam Case)
Middle School
1st: The Winds (Taft Jr/Sr High School)
2nd: Renewable Rookies (Taft Jr/Sr High School)