Power to the People
Backstory: Power plants that provide electrical energy for municipal and industrial purposes in the United States are generally fueled by hydroelectric power, nuclear fission reactors or through the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas, and to a lesser extent, oil. Areas with higher population numbers, such as the cities of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and Boston require a larger number of actual power plants per area. In some cases, close proximity to fuel resources dictates the type of fuel used for the process of electricity. Hydroelectric power, for example, can only supply electricity for more local demands. In other words, where you live may dictate the source of energy you are using in your everyday life.
Activity: With the above in mind, it’s time to determine what resource is supplying your own home’s energy needs, and to learn more about how far it comes to fulfill your needs. Use the Internet to find the power plants in your own state (you can use your current location or perhaps your hometown). If there are no power plants in your state, find the three closest power plants from your chosen location. Fill in the table below for each power plant and then answer the following questions.
| Power Plant | Location | Distance from You (in miles) | Energy Source | Sustainable or Unsustainable |
How many miles away is your nearest power plant? What energy source is used for the power plant that provides your electricity?
Do all your three power plants use the same energy source? Are the energy sources sustainable? For how long?
How easy would it be to decrease your home’s reliance on the power plant? Could this be done economically?
Does nuclear fuel represent a viable alternative to fossil fuels? Does nuclear power come with too many safety concerns to be a realistic alternative for you?
In some cases the energy source may be available for a limited time thus affecting future availability. Could you suggest an alternative if and when this might happen?
Would you be willing to move to a location that is able to provide sustainable energy such as solar, wind or hydroelectric power?
Does climate change alter any of your answers above?
Activity results are being submitted...