The Task
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Welcome to Pleasantville!

                 

       The local energy company, Voltage Electric employs 50% of the local residents, and is responsible for 60% of the municipal and state taxes.  The price of oil has skyrocketed and the company is losing money. Voltage Electric wants to convert to coal to save money on operating costs.  If this is not done immediately, already high electric costs will continue to increase and employee layoffs will soon follow.  If Voltage Electric  converts to coal, no one will lose their job and electricity will become cheaper.  Sounds like and easy choice? The real problem however, is the environmental impact of coal burning.   

    The townspeople are scheduled to vote on a referendum on whether to convert Voltage Electric, from oil to coal. 

    You will be assigned to a team of experts that will present a PowerPoint presentation to the town meeting.  The objective of this presentation is to convince the townspeople that your team’s research supports a specified decision. Should Voltage Electric Power Plant continue to use oil as a means of generating electricity? OR Should Voltage Electric Power Plant convert to a coal burning system for generating electricity?

Each team member will:

·        research  questions

·        work together as a team to share information

·        create 3 slides of the group’s PowerPoint

·        present the group’s analysis to the townspeople

·        write and individual summary paragraph stating your personal position on the conversion

The first step is…..

Click on each photo for an insight into Pleasantville’s demographics:

The next step is...

Click on the power plant: