Energy in the United States

Ben Franklin's Famous Kite

Jun 15, 1752

Supposedly, Ben Franklin flew a kite in a lightning storm and extracted sparks from it, thus proving that lightning was in fact electricity.

US Investment Funds First Major Oil Refineries (in Romania)

Jul 3, 1856

1856-57

Thomas Edison Invents Light Bulb and Generator

Jul 3, 1879

Newpapers report the "Era of Electricity" is born.

Niagara Falls Hydroelectric Project

Jul 3, 1896

The plant is designed to send electricity to Buffalo, NY. This is the beginning of long distance electrical movement from a central source.

Precursor to Fluorsescent Bulb Patented

Jul 3, 1901

Peter Hewitt invented the "mercury vapor light"

Electric Refrigerator Invented

Jul 3, 1913

First Nuclear Submarine

Jul 3, 1954

The USS Nautilus

First Nuclear Power Plant

Aug 27, 1956

In Shippingport, PA on the Ohio river

First Successful Geothermal Plant in the US

Jul 3, 1960

Pacific Gas and Electric opened it at The Geysers in California

NIF Opened

May 29, 2009

National Ignition Facility is designed to test whether nuclear fusion could possibly create more energy than was put in to start the reaction.