This interactive map from the United States Energy Information Administration features electricity infrastructure and resources in the United States, including different types of power plants, pipelines, and transmission lines.
Teaching Tips
Positives
The legend and information presented are simple to understand.
It differentiates the various types of power plants including battery storage, biomass, coal, geothermal, hydroelectric, natural gas, nuclear, petroleum, pumped storage, solar, and wind.
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.
Science and social studies classes can use this resource to compare the renewable and nonrenewable energy sources in their state.
This resource is an interactive map of the United States showing the existing electricity infrastructure, including electricity generation plants and the electrical grid. 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.