1. Can you think of any renewable energy sources that are near Charlotte?
Science Starter
What types of renewable energy sources do you think are available in North Carolina?
Can you think of any renewable energy sources that are near Charlotte?
*Extend screen rather than duplicating image on projector in order to view these notes while presenting

2. Today’s Agenda Warm Up & Objective Alternative Energy Sources Notes
Energy Articles
Energy Madness Brackets
Exit Ticket

3. Alternate Energy in North Carolina
SWBAT evaluate sources of alternate energy in North Carolina

4. Political Connection!
NC is one of just a few states in the US that has a legislative renewable energy mandate.  The NC Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (REPS) requires that NC utilities must have a percentage of their retail sales come from renewable energy sources by specific dates – up to 12.5% by 2021. 
By 2021, 12.5% of North Carolina’s energy must come from renewable energy sources!

5. Alternate Energy Sources
Solar Energy
Alternate Energy Sources
Solar energy has two major advantages:
Instead of using fossil fuels, solar power technologies use photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity. This process involves no moving parts. PV systems can be very small (using only a few panels) or many panels can be connected together to construct large systems. 
1. Solar energy’s “fuel” is free.
2. Solar energy is non-polluting.

7. Duke’s Smart Dorm
Duke’s Smart Dorm is a house on the campus of Duke University. This house is run almost entirely off of solar energy.
Tour of the Duke Smart Dorm
e.edu/dorm
Click on the “Virtual Tour” link (during slideshow) to open a virtual tour of the NCSU Solar House. After opening the page, you can click “enter home” and can take a tour of the home. Click on the “more” tab at the top of the page in order to see how the home uses
Daily Tar Heel article on a solar farm in Hillsborough:
More info on Hillsborough solar farm:
Additional article on NC Solar:
More resources:

8. Solar Energy: Pros & Cons
Initial cost of solar panels
Weather can affect effectiveness of solar panels
Solar panels only work during daylight hours. This means they can only create energy during daylight hours, and must use stored energy during dark hours
Pros
Once they are manufactured, solar panels produce no pollution
Once solar panels are paid for, they continue to provide free energy
Solar energy production is very quiet, unlike energy created from fossil fuels and other forms of energy

9. Alternate Energy Sources
Nuclear Energy
Alternate Energy Sources
 In nuclear fission, the nuclei of heavy atoms such as uranium-235 are bombarded with neutrons.
“Split” hyperlink:
Television commercial using mouse-traps and ping-pong balls (shows how nuclear fission works).
“Smaller nuclei” hyperlink: (demonstrates fission more specifically)
 The uranium nuclei split into smaller nuclei and emit neutrons and heat energy.

10. North Carolina State University Nuclear Plant
Click on picture of reactor rods (during presentation mode) to open the NCSU Nuclear Reactor website, and then click “History of the reactor” at the bottom of the slide for more historical information. Youtube link is hooked to the “Cons of a nuclear plant.”
History of the reactor
Cons from a nuclear plant

11. Nuclear Energy: Pros & Cons
Create very small amounts of pollution
Very reliable (require little to no outside fuel to operate)
High levels of electric energy can be created at one nuclear energy plant
Cons
Radioactive waste (must be monitored for 10,000 years after it is used
Example: Chernobyl
Where was it?
What happened?
Threat of nuclear terrorism

12. Alternate Energy Sources
Wind Energy
Alternate Energy Sources
 In the next 50 to 60 years, wind power could be used to create between 5 to 10 percent of the country’s demand for electricity.

13. Wind Turbines
Traditional Wind Turbine

14. Modern Vertical Wind Turbine

15. Wind in North Carolina
Have students discuss (1 minute in table partners) where they would place wind turbines if they were creating a new company that was going to sell wind energy.

16. Where are North Carolina’s Wind Turbines?
Click on map during slideshow to go to live website:
Go back to the previous slide and have students analyze if the location of these wind turbines makes sense, based on the wind levels listed on the previous map.
Are there any near Charlotte?

17. Wind Turbines: Pros & Cons
Self-sustaining (does not require support from other resources or inputs)
Reliable
Causes little to no harm to plant and animal life on the ground
Cons
Not 100% reliable (wind speeds must be at least 16 mph)
Avian mortality (bird killers!)
High initial cost

18. Alternate Energy Sources
Hydroelectric Power
Alternate Energy Sources
 Hydroelectric power is the power generated by falling water.
 The water held in a reservoir behind a dam is a form of stored energy that can be released through the dam to produce electric power.
 The strong water flow that results drives turbines and electric generators.

19. Cowans Ford Dam
Cowans Ford Hydro Station is located in Huntersville, N.C., approximately 20 miles north of Charlotte on Lake Norman. It is the largest conventional hydro station owned by Duke Energy. Cowans Ford Dam created Lake Norman, the largest man-made body of fresh water in North Carolina. The lake provides a dependable supply of water to Lincoln County and the communities of Davidson, Mooresville, Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Huntersville.
Link to more information on Duke Energy’s website:
Wikipedia:
More facts about Lake Norman:

20. Hydroelectric Power: Pros & Cons
Completely independent of fossil fuels
Can be shut off immediately (thermal plants can take hours, nuclear plants can take weeks)
Controls flooding
Very few breakdowns
Cons
Disrupts natural ecosystems
Plant decay that is created as a result of dams can cause release of greenhouse gases
Expensive to build

21. Energy Articles Choose a partner in the classroom (only 2 people)
Both of you will receive an article about energy in North Carolina
Read the article to your partner and then list pros/cons about your energy type in the article on a piece of paper. Make it look nice!
You will have 10 minutes to do this for both!

24. Return to your seats for the Exit Ticket!!

25. Describe the pros and cons of the facility you chose in question #2.
Exit Ticket!
Name two types of alternative energy sources that are available in North Carolina
Give an example of one specific renewable energy facility that is in North Carolina.
Describe the pros and cons of the facility you chose in question #2.