This interactive map from the United States Energy Information Administration features all of the locations of natural gas infrastructure and resources in the United States.
The data includes power plants, oil and gas refineries, pipelines, natural gas transport and storage locations, oil and gas wells and platforms, and the locations of fossil resources.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The legend and information presented are simple to understand.
The natural gas power plants provide a link to view data specific to each location in the Electricity Data Browser.
Additional Prerequisites
The map can be overwhelming if all the layers are viewed at once, so students can toggle items off using the legend on the right.
There are two different base maps (road map and satellite) that can be changed by clicking on the bottom right corner of the map.
Students can capture images using the icon on the bottom left.
Differentiation
Students can select "View Full Details" for a summary of the map's information.
Students can zoom in and focus on their specific state or region.
This resource is an interactive map that includes all components of the United States natural gas infrastructure system. This resource is easy to use and the interactive legend is easily understood. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.2.6-8 Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions, and changes in their environmental characteristics.
D2.Geo.2.9-12 Use maps, satellite images, photographs, and other representations to explain relationships between the locations of places and regions and their political, cultural, and economic dynamics.
D2.Geo.3.9-12 Use geographic data to analyze variations in the spatial patterns of cultural and environmental characteristics at multiple scales.
D2.Geo.4.9-12 Analyze relationships and interactions within and between human and physical systems to explain reciprocal influences that occur among them.
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ESS3: Earth and Human Activity
HS-ESS3-2 Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios.
