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?
*Extend screen rather than duplicating image on projector in order to view these notes while presenting

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

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. Solar Energy 2 Major Advantages 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
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:

10. Solar Energy: Pros & Cons
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. Alternate Energy Sources
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.
“Split” hyperlink:
Television commercial using mouse-traps and ping-pong balls (shows how nuclear fission works).
“Smaller nuclei” hyperlink: (demonstrates fission more specifically)

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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.

15. Wind Turbines
Traditional Wind Turbine

16. Modern Vertical Wind Turbine

17. 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.

18. 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?

19. 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

20. 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.

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.
Link to more information on Duke Energy’s website:
Wikipedia:
More facts about Lake Norman:

22. 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

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.