NY Times: How Does Your State Make Electricity

1. Go to the following website: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/28/climate/how-

electricity-generation-changed-in-your-state-election.html (You may have to sign in with
your school google account)

2. Look at the first graph. Write down the main ways the United States generated electricity in
2001 vs. 2019. Also include the percentages next to each category. Note: The main types
may not add up to 100%.

2001 2019

a. Coal-51% a. Natural gas-38%

b. Nuclear-21% b. Coal-23%
c. Natural Gas-17% c. Nuclear-19%
d. Hydroelectric-6% d. Wind-7%
e. Hydroelectric-7%

3. Determine which state’s electricity generation you would like to graph

4. Find that state using the “Pick a state” drop down menu. Write down the electricity
generation types and their percentages for both 2001 and 2019. Each team member should
choose a different state

Your Name: Tello Martinez Your State: California

2001 2019

● Natural gas-56% ● Natural gas-39%

● Nuclear-17% ● Solar-20%
● Hydroelectric-13% ● Hydroelectric-18%
● Geothermal-6% ● Nuclear-7%
● other-8% ● Wind-7%
● Geothermal-5%
● other-4%

What do the percentages add up to? What do the percentages add up to?

If not 100%, your last category will be If not 100%, your last category will be
called “other” and will be the remainder called “other” and will be the remainder
of percentages you have left of percentages you have left
Your Name:Jennifer Villegas Your State: Colorado

2001 2019

● Coal-76% ● Coal-44%
● Natural gas-20% ● Natural gas-30%
● other-4% ● wind-19%
● ● other-7%
● ●
● ●

What do the percentages add up to? What do the percentages add up to?

If not 100%, your last category will be If not 100%, your last category will be
called “other” and will be the remainder called “other” and will be the remainder
of percentages you have left of percentages you have left

Your Name: Susan Guerrero Your State: Kentucky

2001 2019

● Coal-95% ● Coal-73%
● other-5% ● Natural gas-21%
● ● Hydroelectric-6%
● ●
● ●
● ●

What do the percentages add up to? What do the percentages add up to?

If not 100%, your last category will be If not 100%, your last category will be
called “other” and will be the remainder called “other” and will be the remainder
of percentages you have left of percentages you have left
 Your Name: Tello Martinez Your State: Iowa

2001 2019

● Coal-85% ● Wind-42%
● Nuclear-9% ● Coal-35%
● 0ther-6% ● Natural gas-13%
● ● Nuclear-8%
● ● other-2%
● ●

What do the percentages add up to? What do the percentages add up to?

If not 100%, your last category will be If not 100%, your last category will be
called “other” and will be the remainder called “other” and will be the remainder
of percentages you have left of percentages you have left

5. Using google sheets or another graphing site, or hand draw, you will create 2 pie charts.
The first pie chart will represent the electricity generation for 2001, and the second will
represent it for 2019. Paste all your teams’ graphs into the Google drawing below. Line
up the 2001 graphs across the top and then make sure that your 2019 is below your 2001
graph (but with all the 2019 graphs in a line across too)).
→ Make sure your “pie pieces” are representative of the percent! Ex. If coal is 30% of
electricity generation, it shouldn’t take up half of the pie chart since it’s only 30%.
6. Calculate the percent change in fossil fuel use OR nonrenewables use from 2001 to 2019
for each state that you chose

State 1-California 0% increase in renewables

State 2-Colorado 40% increase in renewables

State 3-Kentucky 23% increase in renewables

State 4-Iowa 58% increase in renewables

7. Write out your claim, evidence and reasoning for “How have electricity sources changed in
the US from 2001 to 2019 and how would these changes impact us environmentally?”
You’ll have 1 claim as a group and each person will add ONE evidence and reasoning that
support the group’s claim.
Electricity sources have changed in the U.S. from 2001 to 2019 to try and become less
harmful towards Earth. Changing our electricity sources impacts us environmentally in a
positive way because it means the making of electricity isn’t as harmful as it was back in
2001. If we focus on Pennsylvania, we can see that their electricity source changed from
being 57% coal in 2001 to being 42% natural gas in 2019, and coal dropping to being 17% of
their electricity maker. The article stated that as a result of this, “electric utilities have been
closing down older coal plants in favor of newer gas-powered turbines.” This is a good impact
towards the environment because it shows for a much healthier electricity maker in
Pennsylvania. Another example of electricity sources that have changed are in the state of
Nevada. The states highest electricity maker was Coal with 52% in 2001, however in 2005
things took a big turn with Natural gas edging out coal, Nevada’s top electricity provider. By
2019 the top electricity provider was Natural gas with a 64%, followed by solar which supplied
14% of the state's electricity. The rapid growth of solar energy has prompted the state to
ratchet up its goals for renewable energy which is also very good for the environment. These
two examples show the impacts and attempts of having much healthier electricity makers from
2001 to 2019, and show how they impact our environments positively.