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First electric plant built
Thomas Edison built the first electric plant. The power plant served a square mile area. -
First windmill to generate electricity
Charles F. Brush built the first windmill that can generate electricity. "The speed of the dynamo at full load is 500 revolutions per minute, and its normal capacity at full load is 12,000 watts" as stated in the website Historical timeline - alternative energy. -
Birth of modern oil industry
This event happened in Texas on a hill known as spindletop. The spindletop erupted black gold or oil at the height greater than 150 ft -
World's First Geothermal Power Plant Is Built
John D. Grant drilled a geothermal well and ran a small direct-current generator which was used to provide electricity for lighting The Geysers resort. -
First Commercial Wind Turbines Sold to Generate Electricity on Remote Farms
The Jacob brothers created a wind powered turbine based on the design of earlier water pump mills. The design succeeds when they replace the blades of the water pump mills with modern airplane propellers. They were then able to sell these to remote farmers. -
World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant, Is Built
Hover dam is constructed in the Colorado River in Arizona. This dam will be known as the world's largest hydroelectric power plant until 1948 -
First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction
"Meanwhile, at Columbia, Fermi sought to develop a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction. In 1942, when President Franklin Roosevelt authorized the 'Manhattan Project,' Fermi's work was relocated to the University of Chicago, where in December of that year, he and his team achieved the first controlled nuclear chain reaction." as stated in the website Historical timeline - alternative energy -
Most used fuel becomes petroleum
Because of the creation of automobiles petroleum becomes the most used fuel in US.