8th+-+Renewable+Energy

**Subscription Databases:**  [|Gale Student Resources] : erie19058   [|NetTrekker] : jswilson, rams1   [|World ﻿Book Online] : jswilson, world [|The Great Energy Debate] Alternative Energy Institute, Inc [|American Bioenergy Association] [|American Coal Foundation] American Petroleum Institute [|American Solar Energy Society] [|American Wind Energy Association] British Petroleum CIA World Factbook [|Department of Energy’s Kids Zone] [|Energy Information Administration Kids Page] [|Geothermal Energy Association] [|Natural Gas Supply Association] [|National Hydropower Association] National Renewable Energy Laboratory [|NEED’s energy sources fact sheets] [|Nuclear Energy Institute] Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) [|Propane Education and Research Council] U.S. Department of Energy U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Energy and World Energy Statistics U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources THE GREAT ENERGY DEBATE Energy resources keep the lights on and the wheels turning around the world. The United States, which comprises only 5% of the world’s population, consumes about 30% of the total energy. Traditionally the US has imported much of its energy resources from other countries. Oil from the Middle East is the largest energy import. This dependency places us in a highly vulnerable position, both economically & politically. Some of the ways suggested to lessen this dependency are to use more of our public lands for energy production and to invest in renewable energy. Both of these strategies are controversial because of the environmental, economic, political, and cultural implications associated with them. For this assignment we will not only be researching various alternative energy sources but also considering the pro’s and con’s associated with implementing them in a community. You will be asked to consider the impacts on various groups of society so that you can see how the decision is not always as simple as it may seem at first glance! Imagine this scenario…We are running low on oil supplies and fuel costs are skyrocketing. Senator Jane Earll gets funding to build a giant windmill on Beach 11. This location has been chosen because flat shorelines with a steady breeze are the best locations for optimal harnassing of the wind’s energy. Wind energy is a renewable resource that produces minimal pollution and will never run out (especially in Erie!!) The windmill will stand as tall as a 20 story building and will have 3 blades that span 200 feet across. The windmill will produce 1.5 to 4.0 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity a year. That is enough electricity to power 150-400 homes! If the first windmill is a success, the state will attain additional funding in order to build a windfarm with dozens of windmills scattered over the whole peninsula. A wind farm and power plant could possibly power 7,300 homes. This affordable energy source will provide cheaper elecricity for many unfortunate families that cannot keep up with the rising costs of fossil fuels. In addition, the power plant will provide numerous jobs for those currently unemployed in our community. On the downside, many will consider such a large structure to be an eyesore. Besides the fact that by building these giant structures they are destroying the beach and the habitat of many native species of birds, fish, insects, plants, turtles, etc., windmills are also known to kill large numbers of migratory birds that get caught in the giant blades. Obviously Presque Isle is a great draw for our tourism industry in the summertime and this will be negatively affected by ruining some of our prime beaches and birdwatching areas. In addition to tourists, many local teenagers and boaters enjoy going to Beach 11 due to the calm water and nice sand. You will be participating in a mock hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee for Energy and Natural Resources. The hearing is being held to determine whether or not to continue with this proposed windmill project at Beach 11. Each group will assume the role of one of the stakeholders in the debate, trying to persuade the committee that its opinion is the right one. In addition to persuading the committee to build/not build on Presque Isle, your group will be responsible for doing some research on other renewable resources. Part of your presentation to the committee will include other options that be viable alternatives to the windmill project. You will not only need to explain how these other options work to generate power, but you will also need to focus on one source that you feel would be the best alternative and present a plan for the location, etc. of this other option. The stakeholders that you will be representing will be: City of Erie Parks & Recreation Department PA Department of Tourism Members of Youth for Environmental Action President of the American Petroleum Institute President of the Sierra Club The Erie City Office of Economic & Community Development Department of Conservation & Natural Resources Advocates for the Unemployed in Erie County You will spend one day in the library doing research and will continue your research on the computers in the classroom.