Energy 101: Electricity Generation Questions

1) Summarize how thermal energy plants create electricity

2) What type of energy conversion creates electricity?

3) What can cause a blackout?

4) How many grids are there in North America?

5) What device is needed to allow electricity to travel longer distances?

6) What is the typical voltage in a home outlet?

State and Local Energy Data

Go to http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/sled/#/

Type Fort Collins into the search bar and hit enter. Scroll down on the first page you’re brought to
until you hit fuel sources. Record this data into the pie charts below.

Fort Collins US Average

How do the fuel sources of Fort Collins compare to the US average? What do we use more of? What
do we use less of? Are there sources we don’t use at all compared to national electricity sources?

Search for an additional city of choice and analyze how their fuel sources compare and contrast to
both Fort Collins and the national average. What might explain why these differences or similarities
exist?