Do Now

1. Do Now • 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? • What is the biggest advantage of renewable energy over nonrenewable energy? • What is the difference between traditional and alternative types of energy?

4. Exit Ticket • What are two differences between traditional and alternative energy sources? 2. List 1 traditional energy source -include 1 benefit & 1 cost 3. List 1 alternative energy source -include 1 benefit & 1 cost

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

6. 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.  • BLAH, BLAH, BLAH! By 2021, 12.5% of North Carolina’s energy must come from renewable energy sources!

7. BIG QUESTION! • What types of alternative energy would be most useful and most easily accessible in North Carolina.? • Aspects to consider: • Weather, climate, Natural Resources

8. 2 Major Advantages Solar Energy • 1. Solar energy’s “fuel’ is free • 2. Solar energy is non-polluting • *Instead of fossil fuels use photovoltaic (PV) panels to convert sunlight directly into electricity.

9. North Carolina Solar House • The North Carolina Solar House is a house on the campus of N.C. State University in Raleigh, NC. This house is run almost entirely off of solar energy. • Virtual Tour of the NC Solar House

10. Solar Energy: Pros & Cons 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 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

11. Nuclear Energy Alternate Energy Sources  In nuclear fission, the nuclei of heavy atoms such as uranium-235 are bombarded with neutrons.  The uranium nuclei split into smaller nuclei and emit neutrons and heat energy.

12. North Carolina State University Nuclear Plant History of the reactor Cons from a nuclear plant

13. Nuclear Energy: Pros & Cons Pros • 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

14. 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.

15. Wind Turbines Traditional Wind Turbine

16. Modern Vertical Wind Turbine

17. Wind in North Carolina

18. Where are North Carolina’s Wind Turbines? Are there any near Charlotte?

19. Wind Turbines: Pros & Cons Pros • 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

20. Hydroelectric Power Alternate Energy Sources Hydroelectric poweris 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.

21. 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.

22. Hydroelectric Power: Pros & Cons Pros • 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

23. NC Energy Brochure • Front: NC Alternative Energy Resources • Inside folds: • Solar Farm-5+ sentence description + picture • Nuclear reactor-5+ sentence description + picture • Cowan’s farm dam • Back: Pros & Cons of each energy source • Argument of which alternative energy source is best

24. Resource Review Quiz • 4.2 Powerpoint • Write your answers in your notebook

25. Exit Ticket! • Name the four 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 one facility you read about.