Analysis of the Economics of Wind Power in Maryland

Unit 7 – Technology and the Environment

Computer Science I

ObjectivesThe student will: 1. Cite specific textual evidence,

attending to the precise details of explanations or descriptions.

2. Read and comprehend technical texts in the Grades 9-10 Text Complexity Band independently and proficiently.

3. Research and report on the design of the products and processes that support modern power and energy enterprises.

4. Cite examples of trade-offs that have to be made when new technologies are developed to reduce the use of resources

Anticipatory Questions

1. What is renewable energy? Why is it important?2. What are some types of renewable energy?3. What is meant by the “carbon footprint”? Why are

efforts being made to reduce it?4. Given the advantages of renewable energy, why is non-

renewable energy so widely used?5. Why does the government encourage the use of

renewable energy?

From The Washington Post, February 20, 2012:“Maryland Makes a Weak Argument for Offshore Wind

Farms”

“Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley (D) wants to subsidize the construction of large wind farms off the state’s Atlantic Coast. But Maryland law already requires electricity suppliers to derive a fifth of their power from renewable sources by 2022. Why force them to choose one type of clean power over another, potentially cheaper, type?”

1. What does the “D” after Martin O’Malley’s name mean?2. What does it mean by “potentially cheaper type”?

“When we posed that question last month, we received a response from Malcolm D. Woolf, the director of the Maryland Energy Administration. In a letter, Mr. Woolf said that the state shouldn’t continue to “import” electricity from its neighbors; Marylanders should support “home-grown” energy instead of sending “ratepayer dollars to other states” that might produce cheaper renewable power.”

3. What does Mr. Woolf mean by “importing” energy?4. What is meant by “renewable” power?

“Is this the best argument remaining to supporters of the O’Malley plan — that Maryland should be energy-independent? If so, why stop with “home-grown” electricity? Maryland doesn’t build many cars or trucks, yet 4 million Marylanders drive. How about a charge on the purchase of vehicles to subsidize the production of “home-grown” cars, so that Maryland motorists stop sending their dollars to Detroit? Marylanders eat millions of oranges every year. Imagine how many jobs the state could create if it promoted the local fruit industry by building a complex of immense greenhouses.”

5. What does the word “subsidize” mean?

“Among too many political leaders, the argument that carbon-free energy is as much — or more — about “green jobs” as it is about addressing global warming has turned from a politically expedient talking point into an economically dubious article of faith. Confusing the goals of clean energy leads politicians to saddle their states with expensive policies, such as Mr. O’Malley’s green-power protectionism, instead of seeking to secure the best deal for electricity consumers and the environment. It would make far more sense for the state’s suppliers to look all over the Eastern United States for renewable electricity, including in places where, for example, the wind blows powerfully and consistently — and onshore.”

6. What is meant by “politically expedient talking points” and an “economically dubious article of faith”?

7. Who are the “electricity consumers” talked about, and what does the article mean when it talks about the “best deal” for them?

“Don’t believe us? Then take the word of Mr. Woolf’s agency, which in 2010 opposed the policy Mr. O’Malley now favors. The reasons? Uncertainty about the effectiveness of wind farms to provide electricity to the state, about where wind turbines would go, and about how expensive the whole project would be compared with other options.”

8. What “other options” is the paragraph talking about?

Analysis QuestionsIn groups of 3-4, answer these analysis questions. For each question, one group will be chosen to read aloud its answer.1. What is Governor O’Malley proposing?2. Does the article support or oppose his proposal? How do you

know?3. In your own words, explain the main reason the article gives for its

position?4. What point is the article making when it introduces the comparison

with cars and trucks and with oranges in the third paragraph?5. In the fourth paragraph, who does the article think is “confusing the

goals of clean energy” and in what way are the goals being confused?

6. What tells us that this article is intended to be a statement of opinion instead of just straight facts?

At Your Computers:Produce a MS Word document answering each of the following questions:1. Do you agree with the article? What convinces you that the

article is or is not correct?2. If you chose “yes,” find one thing in the article you disagree with

and explain why. If you chose “no,” find one thing in the article you agree with and explain why.

3. Online, find two other sources of information that you can cite to support your position. Explain how each one supports your position. Provide full bibliographic references for both.

4. Explain why the two sources you found can be considered reliable.

Find 2-3 people who agree with you about the article. Choose a spokesperson who will present your group’s answers to the following:1. Did the article make its point convincingly?

Explain why or why not.2. If you were writing an article to support this

position, what might you have done differently?