This interactive map provides an engaging way to visualize the locations and prominence of renewable and non-renewable energy infrastructure in the United States.
It shows the locations and details of power plants, processing plants, refineries, ports, chemical plants, storage sites, and pipelines.
Teaching Tips
Positives
Students can personalize their map by selecting the type of map and what information to display and then share an online link to their map.
This is a great way to visualize the prominence of clean energy production in the United States.
Additional Prerequisites
Certain layers of the map will not be visible until zoomed in.
Students can zoom in and out of the map and select specific locations as well as their own.
Students should have a general understanding of different sources of energy and whether they are renewable or non-renewable.
Differentiation
Students can be tasked with trying to determine why there are more of certain energy sources in specific locations like near coastlines or in hotter areas.
This resource can be used in social studies classes during lessons about policy building for a clean energy transition and in science and geography classes during lessons about the impact of certain energy sources on the local environment and where they are located.
In a geography class, have students use the "Measure" tool to measure the distance between two places or find the latitude and longitude of a location.
Scientist Notes
This map shows the split between renewable and nonrenewable energy sources in the United States. The majority of U.S. cities engaged in significant natural gas fracking in 2021, which had disastrous environmental effects. The data layers and attribute table contains precise datasets. The use of this resource in the classroom is advised.
Standards
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Geography
D2.Geo.3.6-8 Use paper-based and electronic mapping and graphing techniques to represent and analyze spatial patterns of different environmental and cultural 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.
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.
HS-ESS3-4 Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.
