Energy

Major U.S. Energy Events

  • Natural Gas Well

    Natural Gas Well
    The first natural gas well is drilled in a town in New York State.
  • Oil Well

    Oil Well
    The first oil well ever was drilled in Pennsylvania.
  • First Natural Gas Pipeline

    First Natural Gas Pipeline
    In Pennsylvania, the first long distance natural gas pipeline was created. It was 5 miles long and 2 inches wide. A pipeline was built in NY in the same year. Natural gas was used to power many things and being able to transport it efficiently was an important event.
  • AC Electrical Current

    AC Electrical Current
    The Alternating Current (AC) system of electrical generation is invented by Nikola Tesla. It becomes a standard of electricity over the next few decades.
  • Windmill Energy

    Windmill Energy
    In Cleveland, Ohio, the first windmill to produce electricity was created. It was carried out according to the plans of Charles Brush and it was used to power his home and basement.
  • Geothermal energy

    Geothermal energy
    In Boise, Idaho, the first building ever was powered by geothermal energy.
  • Benegits of Ethanol

    Benegits of Ethanol
    A lot of research about the benefits of ethanol (alcohol fuel) versus petroleum fuels started surfacing. This research was done by both Columbia University and Edison Electric Testing Laboratory. They found ethanol to be more efficient in an internal combustion engine. This research seriously considered for 2 more years.
  • Hoover Dam

    Hoover Dam
    After 4 years of construction, the Hoover dam was built in the Colorado river in Arizona. It was the largest hydroelectric producer in the world for more than 10 years.
  • Nuclear Energy

    Nuclear Energy
    The first nuclear energy plants popped up in Pennsylvania. It soon accounted for 20% of the electricity of the United States.
  • Global Climate Change

    Global Climate Change
    In the 1980s scientists began to gather evidence that climate change that could have very negative effects on the environment was being caused by the burning of fossil fuels.