Environmental Science: Renewable Energy Planning

When it comes to alternative energy investigations there is rarely a "correct" answer. Use this activity to inspire critical thinking about this hot topic.

Summary:

In this activity, students will act on behalf of the city of Laramie, Wyoming to decide on the source of renewable energy that best suits the city.

Students will weigh the demands that solar, biomass, and wind energy present, using My World GIS to investigate which type of energy plant is most sensible to build, and using equations included in the activity to calculate how much energy each source will produce.

Three project files accompany the activity in the zip file you will download.

This activity is available for download at the My World Activity Center. Click on the Activity Center link and look for the activity entitled:

"My World Intro Activities: (6) Solar, Wind, and Biomass Energy"

Here's what you need:

• My World GIS

My World GIS is a Geographic Information System (GIS) designed by educators specifically for learning with a GIS--not about a GIS. It is a powerful mapping and analytical tool that provides visual representation of data in a geographic context.

PASCO offers a variety of licensing options for K-12 and University students.

See the product description and licensing options.