Directions+for+Project

Welcome to the Wikispace for the Upper Merion Middle School's Titan Team's exploration of alternative energy. We are working on a hypothetical project as a means to learn about renewable energy sources. The Upper Merion Board of Supervisors is meeting to discuss ways that the township can reduce energy costs and become a more “green” community. The township already has a recycling program, but the community has voted to explore ways to encourage the use of renewable energy resources. The township has voted to spend money to develop a new energy company that utilizes one resource of renewable energy.

You will work with a group of your peers to develop a company that produces energy from one of the five renewable energy resources.

You will be assigned to research 1-2 of the following five renewable energy resources: -Biomass -Geothermal -Hydroelectric -Solar -Wind Each person in the group will complete an individual "Renewable Energy Research Form." These research notes will be graded for accuracy, completion, and effort. Please remember to only record your notes using bullets or short phrases. Do not use complete sentences, and be sure that you do not copy word-for-word from the textbooks and websites resources.
 * __ TASK ONE: __**

Your group will form a new energy company that will be located in our town. Your company will select only one renewable energy resource that will provide the energy for Upper Merion Township. Your "company" will make a Wiki-page using the Internet. Your group will also present the information to a “mock” Upper Merion Board of Supervisors with the intention of "selling" your resource!
 * __ TASK TWO: __**


 * Your final product __must__ include the following items: **

1. Company Name (must be original)

2. Company Logo (must be original)

3. Graphics/Pictures/Diagrams (must be cited)

4. Visually-appealing format/Neatness/Well-organized

5. Correct spelling/grammar/punctuation


 * Your final project __must__ also address the following questions: **

1. What is your energy resource? (Where does it come from? How does it work?)

2. Why did the group select this energy resource?

3. How was this energy resource used in the past? How is it presently being used today? What evidence is there about its future that would support using it in Upper Merion Township?

4. What are the top four advantages of this energy resource? Why?

5. What are three problems (disadvantages) with this energy resource that must be solved in order to provide a reliable supply of energy for Upper Merion Township? How do you suggest addressing these three problems? (What are your possible solutions?)