energy
Energy! Scouts certainly seem to have a lot of it! If we could find a way to bottle it, we’d be swimming in royalties! Alas, other energy sources will have to do. Here in the Northwest, the bulk of our energy is green — it comes from renewable sources such as hydroelectric power from our many dams or wind in the Columbia Gorge. While we still burn coal, we’re doing it more efficiently. And there is a push to conserve here that doesn’t exist in many other places. Conservation is a part of our culture. It’s paying off, and power companies expect it to pay off even better in the future, as we ship our power to nearby states who cannot meet their demand.
The Boy Scout Energy merit badge only begins to scratch the surface of a topic that many turn into a life-long endeavor. Whether your preferred power is nuclear, solar, or somewhere between, understanding energy will make you a better consumer.
requirement 1 – an energy article
Of course you can find these in any newspaper or most magazines. You might also be interested in what Scouting magazine has to say about energy. There are even some articles in Boys’ Life dealing with energy, although they are written toward younger Scouts.
requirement 4 – conservation
4a. A sample energy audit can be found at the bottom of the Energy worksheet
4b. Here are some energy-saving tips put together by DD&E (no, that’s not an energy company – it’s three Scouts).
requirement 7 – production
Biomass in the Northwest
Northwest Renewable: Cogeneration
Northwest Power Planning Council: Natural Gas
Pacific Northwest Natural Laboratory: Fuel Cells
Northwest Geothermal
Energy Northwest: Columbia Generating Station
WSU: The Northwest Solar Center
Tidal Energy
Energy Northwest: Nine Canyon Wind Turbines
requirement 8 – careers in energy
Current job openings at Pen Light (Gig Harbor)
Work for PUD3 (Mason County)
Careers at Puget Sound Energy (Kitsap County)
Deron Smith, a Scouter at Peninsula Light, has put together classes, demonstrations, and interviews for Scout groups working on their Energy badge. Contact him here if your troop is interested.