Today you are going to prepare research for a congressional hearing on energy resources. Remember the more facts you can gather about energy resources, the better you will be able to convince Congress to fund your kind of energy. Use these websites to gather information.
Energy Websites that Cover all Sources
Explore More: The Future of Energy: http://www.iptv.org/exploremore/energy/profiles/profiles.cfm
This website profiles all the different sources of energy. It is a great one to start your research.
Energy Kids: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=2
Breaks energy sources into nonrenewable and renewable sources and has links to a page about each source.
The Energy Story: http://www.energyquest.ca.gov/story/index.html
Scroll down to the Table of Contents to click on the “chapter” about your source of energy.
Energy Sources: http://www.darvill.clara.net/altenerg/index.htm
The left side of the page has links to pages about the different energy sources. Has videos about each source.
After completing your research, write a short paragraph below explaining what you think will be the best energy resource (or resources) for America to use in the future. Support your choice(s) with your research!

Energy
Resource
Biomass
Coal
Hydroelectric
Nuclear
Solar
Wind
Description/Definition Nonrenewable or
Renewable?
Pros
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
Cons
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.

Research where in the U.S. the most solar, wind, and hydroelectric power is currently being produced. Go to the following websites and view the available maps to answer the questions on the following pages.
RESOURCES/REFERENCES:
Wind Speed Map (and great info on wind power): http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/wind_maps.asp
Solar Radiation Map: http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/images/charts/map_csp_national-large.gif
Precipitation Map: http://www.watercache.com/images/education/us_precipitation_map.png
Elevation Map: http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/factsheets/fs10602.graphics/usa.jpg
Info about Global Climate Change from the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC): http://www.ipcc.ch/
Look specifically at their Summary for Policymakers: www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf
This summary explains the issues for the layman not familiar with climate science.

What does an area need to have electricity from wind turbines?___________________
What two things are needed to have hydroelectricity?___________and____________
What does an area need to have electricity from solar energy?____________________
Answer these questions after making the map (see other side).
Which region(s) is best for wind energy?
________________________________________
Which region(s) is best for solar energy?
________________________________________
Which region(s) is best for hydroelectric energy?
________________________________________
Is there a state that is not in a good area for any type of alternative energy? Which state is it and why?_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
What type of alternative energy is best for Florida?___________________________
Why?__________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________

Look at the maps from the previous websites and shade in the areas that would be good for solar energy, wind energy, or hydroelectric energy with different colors or markings. There may be areas that are not good for any of those alternative energies. Make sure to have a legend that shows which type of energy each color indicates.