National Science Standard 5... Science and Technology

Speaker... Steven Coley
Mountain Property Resources

Lesson Plans

• Hydropower is a clean, inexpensive, renewable and reliable source of electricity that can help meet the energy needs of the United States.
• 81 percent of all renewable electricity in the United States comes from conventional hydropower.
• Hydropower accounts for approximately seven percent of the electricity generated in the United States and nine percent of the nation's generating capacity(79,366 MW).
• Although this may seem like a lot, the DOE reported in 2002 that roughly 21, 000 MW of additional capacity could be developed in the United States, enough to power eight cities the size of Seattle or the entire state of Virginia without building one new dam. This could be accomplished by upgrading and enhancing current hydropower projects and by adding hydropower projects on specific existing dams (Those that are financially and environmentally prudent)
• In 2003 more than 156 million metric tons of carbon emissions were avoided by generating electricity through hydropower instead of GHG emitting sources.
• As for the environmental impact--all forms of energy production have some sort of environmental footprint, including hydropower. Hydropower is the most regulated form of energy production in the United States. The industry takes its responsibility of environmental stewardship very seriously and works hard with numerous stakeholders to make sure that the best balance between environmental concerns and energy production is made.

You came looking for the answers
To some questions on his mind
Seeking truth and understanding
In the hope that he would find
A way to better serve his brothers
And his sisters in the sun
Sharing all that he has given
Giving all to everyone

Come and listen to the story
Of a journey once begun
Of a people and their plenty
And their season in the sun
And how they gave themselves to symbols
And things that they could hold
Living lives in desperation
In the fear of letting go

It amazes me
And I know the wind will surely one day
Blow it all away
It amazes me
And I'm so very grateful that you made the world this way

For our plans have come together now
Where do we go from here
Will our differences divide us
Must we always live in fear
For there are things that we must move through
Some things to cast aside
But our father watches over us
Our mother will provide

It amazes me
And I know the wind will someday surely
Blow it all away
It amazes me
And I'm so very grateful that you made the world this way

It amazes me
It amazes me
It amazes me

Words and music by John Denver

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Curriculum written and designed by Debbie Murphy and Hollie Carter