Eight young women Friday will present their research regarding the correlation between rural communities and renewable energy to mark the end of their summer internship.

The Radiant Rays, the Center for Energy Education Empowering Youth in Energy summer interns, will share their findings at a symposium at 10 a.m. at C4EE’s campus at 460 Airport Road in Roanoke Rapids. 

The talk will examine the relationship between rural communities and renewable energy. The event is open to the public.

This year’s internship program represents college students and young professionals from North Carolina and Indiana. Throughout the summer they interviewed stakeholders to gain perspectives on the benefits and challenges of implementing renewables in rural communities.

Halifax County Commissioner Gary Redding will serve as the event’s keynote speaker.

A longtime proponent of youth empowerment and community engagement, Redding will outline economic development, education, health and wellness, public safety, and other key areas that strengthen the quality of life for all residents.

A veteran Halifax Community College English and criminal justice instructor, he integrates renewable energy into his curriculum by challenging students to develop grant proposals that repurpose abandoned buildings using sustainable technologies. 

Redding also is moving forward toward the launch of a junior county commissioner club to teach policy processes and encourage public service and engagement initiatives among area students.

They will also have a platform to present their research at C4EE’s annual SolarFEST on October 2.

“These young women have spent their summer quietly but robustly championing clean energy to improve their communities,” said Mozine Lowe, C4EE’s executive director. “They confidently interviewed a range of community stakeholders, mingling narratives from multiple generations to facilitate a focused, in-depth presentation.”