10 Key Energy Events

By averyr1

  • First Steam Locomotive

    First Steam Locomotive
    George Stephenson built the first steam locomotive on July 25, 1814. By 1812, Stephenson became greatly skilled with engines. After that, he built a locomotive called "Blucher". He then dramatically improved the engine's steam system to give it greater pulling power, which made it the first fully effective steam railway locomotive. Picture: Drawing of Stephenson's "Blucher" from 1814 http://www.historytoday.com/richard-cavendish/george-stephensons-first-steam-locomotive

  • First Windmill Manufactured in the United States

    First Windmill Manufactured in the United States
    (Exact Date Unknown)
    The first windmill manufactured in the United States was designed by Daniel Halladay, who began inventing windmills in 1854 in his Connecticut machine shop. The windmill was very successful in pumping water on farms and ranches. Picture: A steel-bladed water pumping windmill in the Midwest. http://telosnet.com/wind/early.html
    http://www.thirdplanetwind.com/energy/history.aspx

  • Creation of the First Commercially Viable Electric Light

    Creation of the First Commercially Viable Electric Light
    On October 21, 1879, Thomas Edison tested the electric light he is famous for today. Even though he wasn't the first person to come up with the concept, his lightbulb was the first that proved practical, and affordable, for home illumination. He did this by using a carbonized bamboo filament. Picture: Still life of the first electric lightbulb http://time.com/3517011/thomas-edison/

  • First Central Power Plant in the US

    First Central Power Plant in the US
    Pearl Street Station was the first central power plant in the United States. It was located in Manhattan, New York. The station was built by the Edison Illuminating Company, headed by Thomas Edison. When it started generating electricity in 1882, it served 400 lamps at 82 customers. By 1884, Pearl Street Station was serving 508 customers with 10,164. Picture: A sketch of the Pearl Street Station https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Street_Station

  • First Hydroelectric Power Plant

    First Hydroelectric Power Plant
    The world's first hydroelectric water plant began operation on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin. This project was initiated Appleton paper manufacturer H.J. Rogers. He was inspired by Thomas Edison's plans for an electric-producing station in New York. When it opened, the plant produced enough energy to light Rogers's home, the plant itself, and a nearby building. Picture: The dam across the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/gilded/jb_gilded_hydro_1.html

  • First Successful Electric Automobile in the United States

    First Successful Electric Automobile in the United States
    (Exact Date Unknown)
    In 1891, William Morrison of Des Moines, Idaho built the first successful electric automobile in the United States. Picture: Thomas Edison and an electric car http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/223/electric-car-timeline.html

  • World's First District Heating System

    World's First District Heating System
    (Exact Date Unknown)
    In 1892, the people in Boise, Idaho felt the heat of the world's first district heating system as hot water was piped from hot springs to town buildings. Within a few years, the system was serving 200 homes and 40 downtown businesses. Picture: Diagram of a district heating system http://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/history-geothermal-energy-america

  • Completion of Hoover Dam

    Completion of Hoover Dam
    The Hoover Dam was completed on March 1, 1936. It fueled the development of major cities such as Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and Phoenix. The Dam is capable of irrigating 2 million acres and generates enough electricity to power 1.3 million homes. Here is a great video on the Hoover Dam
    http://www.history.com/topics/hoover-dam/videos/deconstructing-history-hoover-dam Picture: Picture of Hoover Dam by Ansel Adams https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_Dam
    http://www.history.com/topics/hoover-dam

  • First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant in the United States

    First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant in the United States
    The Shippingport Atomic Power Station was opened by President Dwight D Eisenhower as part of his Atoms for Peace program on May 26, 1958. It closed on October 1, 1982. Picture: Image of the Shippingport Atomic Power Station, the first full scale PWR nuclear power plant in the United States https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shippingport_Atomic_Power_Station

  • Creation of the Department of Energy

    Creation of the Department of Energy
    The 1973 oil crisis called attention to the need to consolidate energy policy. On August 4, 1977, President Jimmy Carter signed into law The Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977, which created the Department of Energy. Picture: The Seal of the Department of Energy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Energy