Then, Now, and Tomorrow: Energy in Virginia

At the end of this section, you will be able to:

• contrast how Native Americans and colonial Europeans obtained energy to support their lifestyles
• explain how obtaining fuel for iron furnaces affected local forest lands
• describe why Embrey Dam was constructed/destroyed, and why other hydropower dams are being removed now
• explain why water is pumped back and forth to generate power on the Roanoke River and Back Creek
• explain where wind energy plants may be located in the future
• locate where Virginia has oil/gas and coal fields now, and why future gas fields might be developed in the Triassic Basin
• describe why Virginia Beach is nervous about plans for uranium mining so far away in Pittsylvania County
• describe how oil and gas are delivered from outside Virginia to customers within the state
• describe where nuclear power plants are located, and what areas are at risk in case of an accident
• describe how electrical generation and transmission are changing in Virginia

Norfolk Southern intermodal freight, saving energy by carrying containers on B Line at Delaplane (Fauquier County)