SMUD - Sacramento Municipal Utility District
04/29/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 04/30/2026 09:12
Sun-powered racers hit the water at Rancho Seco
For Immediate Release: April 29, 2026
Sun-powered racers hit the water at Rancho Seco
Students design, build and race solar boats in SMUD's California Solar Regatta
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - On Friday and Saturday, high school and college students from across the region and state will race full-sized, solar-powered boats they've designed and built themselves in SMUD's 13th annual California Solar Regatta at Rancho Seco Recreational Area.
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WHAT: |
13th annual California Solar Regatta |
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WHEN: |
Friday and Saturday, May 1 and 2, 2026 |
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WHERE: |
Rancho Seco Recreational Area, 14960 Twin Cities Road, Herald |
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WHO: |
Hundreds of students, 13 high school and 8 college teams, SMUD representatives and other community members |
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The California Solar Regatta is part of SMUD's longstanding commitment to helping local educators connect students with STEM concepts and career pathways, especially as SMUD aims to decarbonize the region's power supply by 2030. Students used renewable energy and technology skills they've learned in school and applied them in a practical, hands-on way. This event creates a fun, exciting challenge that can help inspire students to pursue educational and career paths in STEM fields.
13 teams of high school students (365 students), as well as 8 teams of college students (207 students), have designed and built 26 solar-powered boats for this event. High school teams will compete on the first day of racing (May 1), and post-secondary college students will compete on the second day (May 2). All teams will compete in a variety of categories, including sprint, slalom, endurance and presentation. Winners will receive a variety of prizes and the overall winner will take home a regatta cup.
The California Solar Regatta is open to the public and racing is slated for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday and 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, with lunch breaks from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. both days.
More information is available at smud.org/solar-regatta.
About SMUD
As the nation's sixth-largest, community-owned, not-for-profit electric service provider, SMUD has been providing low-cost, reliable electricity to Sacramento County for more than 75 years. SMUD is a recognized industry leader for its innovative energy efficiency programs, renewable power technologies and for its sustainable solutions for a healthier environment. In 2024, SMUD's power supply was about 62% carbon free, which is largely influenced by the weather and amount of hydroelectricity produced. SMUD's goal is to completely eliminate carbon in its electricity production by 2030 while maintaining reliability and keeping rates among the lowest in California - on average, 50% lower than its neighboring, investor-owned utility. For more information on SMUD's Zero Carbon Plan and its customer programs, visit smud.org.
SMUD - Sacramento Municipal Utility District published this content on April 29, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 30, 2026 at 15:13 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]