alternate fuels By goldman114 Mar 14, 1234 chinese develop natural gas for engergy use. 200 B.C. Mar 16, 1234 persians built windmills to grind grain and pump water 10th century Mar 15, 1712 first steam engine in england 1712 Mar 17, 1830 ehtonal blend becomes popular in lamps 1830's Mar 15, 1860 first solar system was invented Mar 15, 1882 first commercial scale hydroelectric plan appleton,Wis Mar 15, 1900 first diesel engine runs on vegitable oil Mar 15, 1921 first geothermal plant built in Cali. Mar 19, 1950 patroleum becomes most popular in gas Mar 19, 1957 first commercialy produced nuclear power plant Mar 19, 1997 first electric car made for public lease Mar 19, 2009 u.s. investes 3.4 billion to modernize energy grid