Connecticut+Energy+Resources


 * Energy Uses in Connecticut **

** Student Materials **
 * Science, Technology & Society **

** Energy Uses in Connecticut **

** Student Materials **

Energy is used everyday to heat and light our homes, schools and businesses. Have you ever thought about where the energy we use everyday comes from? How have these energy sources changed over the last several decades?

You have been provided with a spreadsheet containing some information about energy use and its sources in Connecticut from 1960 through 2001. Use this information and the Excel program to prepare a line graph showing the trends in the energy consumption from the following sources: coal; natural gas; nuclear; hydroelectric; and wood/waste over this time span.

**Your task is to choose three of the fuel sources (coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydroelectric or waste) and research the advantages and disadvantages of this particular energy trend as it is illustrated on the graph.**

Write a paragraph to answer the following questions. Please be sure to type your paragraph and proof read it for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors.
 * What is each of the fuel sources major use?
 * Describe the usage trend over the last forty years (did usage increase, decrease, stay the same?).
 * Does this trend support Connecticut’s initiative to significantly decrease the use of non-renewable resources by the year 2010?
 * Identify at least two questions that you think should be investigated further in order to help decrease the use of non-renewable resources in Connecticut.
 * Briefly discuss the validity of the websites you used to write your paragraph.

Some support materials for the study of energy resources may be found at the websites listed below or you may search the web for other informative sites.


 * Nuclear Energy Resources **

Energy Information Administration: Nuclear [] [] of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology []


 * Hydroelectric Energy Resources **

National Hydropower Association [|http://hydro.org]

Power Matters: Hydroelectric Power []


 * Biomass Energy Resources **

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy []

Connecticut Clean Energy Fund []


 * Coal Energy Resources **

Office of Fossil Energy-U.S. Department of Energy [|www.fe.doe.gov/programs/powersystems/cleancoal/index.html]

Coal Fired Power Generation [|www.rst2.edu/ties/acidrain/IEcoal/how.htm]


 * Natural Gas Energy Resources **

Adventures in Energy [|www.adventuresinenergy.org/main.swf]

Natural Gas Supply Organization [|www.naturalgas.org]





[| 2008 US Energy statistics]