Local scouts work on energy badges with IF Power

There are more than 130 merit badges Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts can earn and local scouts are getting closer to being able to sew another badge on their uniforms.

Idaho Falls Power hosted its first-ever merit badge pow wow — helping nearly 200 scouts work on their energy and electricity merit badges.

Scouts learned about different types of energy and what kind of energy is generated in eastern Idaho.

Idaho Falls Power says the energy industry has some shortages projected for the workforce, so exposing younger kids to the industry might encourage them to learn more about it.

“Sometimes energy doesn’t sound really exciting and it might not be what you think it is,” said Jackie Flowers, general manager. “So we’re trying to bridge the gap and show another side of it . Hopefully we’re planting the seeds for the future.”

Idaho Falls Power will hold a merit badge court of honor in late April to award the scouts with their badges.