Grove City High School STEM Club Takes Environmental Innovation to the State Contest

FedEx Ground, Shell Polymers, and U. S. Steel partnered together with the Steelers to host the annual "Powering Pittsburgh" High School STEM competition. The top three teams received a monetary donation to their school's STEM programs on behalf of the supporting partners and the Pittsburgh Steelers.  

The Grove City High School Gifted STEM team of Christopher Shaw, Daniel Mariacher, Abby Cunningham and Arden Anderson presented their idea, using methane capture from landfills to generate electricity and natural gas, at the local competition at Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4 on October 30.  

They placed first and moved on to the State competition at Acrisure Stadium on November 8 to compete with teams from all over Pennsylvania. They placed third and received a check for $1000 to help support and enhance STEM activities in their school.  

The students visited the Seneca Renewable Energy Facility and Mr. David Smith in mid-October to learn all about how this renewable energy source is changing the face of landfills and garbage.  Their idea was to convert local landfills around Pittsburgh into renewable energy facilities like the one at Seneca and use the methane that is captured and filtered to generate electricity for Acrisure Stadium, while also using the gas to fuel vehicles and heat the stadium.