Tapping the power of the sun was the theme of today's Junior Solar Sprint Solarbrate event hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

Golden, Colo., May 10, 2003 - Tapping the power of the sun was the theme of

today's Junior Solar Sprint Solarbrate event hosted by the U.S. Department
of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).

The 13th Annual Junior Solar Sprint gave students the chance to design,
build and race vehicles whose only energy source was sunlight. Each team
started with a motor and a silicon solar cell, which converts light into
electricity.

Trophies for the fastest cars were given to students racing Bell Middle
School's car, "Speeder," first place; North Valley Middle School's car,
"Yoda's Posse," second place; Orchard Mesa Middle School's car, "The
Falcon," third place; Orchard Mesa Middle School's car, "Ultra Jiffy Bails,"
fourth place; and Maplewood Middle School's car, "Solar Shark 3," fifth
place.

Bell Middle School and North Valley Middle School will represent Colorado at
the National Middle School Science Bowl June 25 - 28 at the Colorado School
of Mines. The two teams will compete in an academic science bowl and a
hands-on model solar car competition.

Five design trophies based on technology, craftsmanship and innovation were
given to teams from West Middle School, first place; Lyons Middle School's
car, "Solar Speedster," second place; West Middle School, third place;
Centennial Middle School's car, "Solar Squad," fourth place; and Monarch
K-8's car, "The Lady," fifth place.

As part of the Solar Model Building Competition, nine middle-school student
teams tapped their creative energy and designed and built solar powered
models using K'NEX construction toys. Lyons Middle School earned first place
while Mead Middle School placed second and Orchard Mesa Middle School placed
third.

The Junior Solar Sprint and Solar Model Building Competition is sponsored by
the U.S. Department of Energy, Midwest Research Institute, Battelle,
Bechtel, NREL, BP America, Inc. and the Kaiser-Hill Company.

NREL is a national laboratory managed by Midwest Research Institute,
Battelle, and Bechtel. In addition to its work on biotechnology for fuels
and chemicals, the lab is a leading center for research into photovoltaics,
wind energy, energy-efficient buildings, advanced vehicle design and
hydrogen fuel cells.