The Green Energy Technology Academy: Where Curiosity Turns into Confidence
The Green Energy Technology Academy (GETA) at Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove isn’t your typical science program. On any given day, students might be racing solar-powered boats, troubleshooting hydrogen fuel cell cars, or designing solar suitcases to bring electricity to remote communities in Brazil. For many, GETA is where curiosity turns into confidence—and where students begin to see what they’re capable of.
Eric Johnson, Academy Coordinator, has seen the academy’s evolution over the past 18 years. What began as a small program in two portable classrooms eventually became a standalone 7,000+ square-foot facility. Over its lifetime, more than 800 students have participated in the academy, with roughly 50 students graduating each year. “I’m training a workforce that’s passionate about what they do—something they love,” said Johnson. “It’s really about developing a work ethic. I just happen to use renewable energy technology to do it.”
GETA blends academic instruction with hands-on experiences. Students design and build projects, participate in competitions, and learn from guest speakers who bring industry perspectives into the classroom. Field trips to Cosumnes River College and Sacramento State introduce students to college-level labs and programs in welding, agriculture, and construction. Partnerships with local employers—including Lennar Homes and SMUD—give students exposure to trade workshops and real-world problem-solving that prepare them for life after high school.
Cultivating Skills that Shape Futures
The GETA experience is intentionally challenging. Along the way, students have fun, build community, and develop skills that matter well beyond the classroom:
- Collaboration – Almost every project is team-based. Whether working on solar-powered boats through the SMUD Solar Regatta or launching rockets through the American Rocketry Challenge, students quickly learn that success is shaped by how well they work together.
- Critical Thinking – When designing projects with complex moving parts, students learn to weigh options and think through consequences. Johnson notes that critical thinking is one of the most important qualities that employers look for in new hires.
- Problem-Solving – Competitions, such as the Hydrogen Grand Prix, are high-pressure situations where things don’t always go as planned, and students must adapt quickly. “It’s about taking the skills you’ve been given, figuring out something you didn’t anticipate, and not giving up,” he said.
- Creativity – When a solution doesn’t work—such as during their RC Land Sail Cart Unit—students are expected to find another way using the tools and knowledge they already have. It’s less about having the perfect answer and more about getting practical.
In addition to building new skills, students are also making an impact beyond the classroom through projects such as building solar systems on tiny homes for homeless veterans to deploying nearly 200 solar suitcases around the world. They even experience the thrill of knowing their satellite and rocketry projects have reached space.
Preparing Students for What’s Next
For many students, the impact of GETA is personal. Johnson recalls a student who came to the academy with a <1.0 GPA and a history of missing classes. Within the first half of the year, she became a 4.0 student and never missed school again. “Just the connection to school through the academy experience changed everything,” he said.
Mentorship also plays an important role at GETA. Johnson credits the many educators, industry partners, and community members who have taken time to work alongside students. As he notes, “When someone takes the time to work with a student, it changes how that student sees themselves.”
By the time students leave GETA, they carry more than technical knowledge. Whether they pursue college, a career in the trades, or another path entirely, they take with them curiosity, capability, and confidence in what’s possible for their future.
“If students leave here knowing how to think, solve problems, and work with others,” said Johnson, “then we’ve done our job.”
February 2026