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Jun 29, 600
Electricity Event - 600 BC
Thales, a Greek, found that when amber was rubbed with silk, it became electrically charged and attracted objects. He had originally discovered static electricity. -
Jun 29, 600
Hydropower Event - BC
Hydropower was used by the Greeks to turn water wheels for grinding grains more than 2,000 years ago. -
Period: Jun 29, 600 to
Through The Years
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Coal Event - 1673-1674
The first record of coal in the United States was shown on a map prepared by Louis Joliet. The map notes charbon de terra (coal of the earth) along the Illinois River in northern Illinois. -
Coal Event - 1748
The first commercial U.S. coal production began near Richmond, Virginia. -
Electricity Event - 1835
Joseph Henry (United States) invented the electrical relay, which could send electrical currents long distances. -
Solar Thermal Event - 1860
Auguste Mouchout (France), a mathematics instructor, was able to convert solar radiation directly into mechanical power. -
Solar Thermal Event - 1878
William Adams (England) constructed a reflector of flat-silvered mirrors arranged in a semicircle. To track the sun's movement, the entire rack was rolled around a semicircular track, projecting the concentrated radiation onto a stationary boiler. -
Hydropower Event - 1880-95
Hydropower was beginning to be used for electricity. The first hydroelectric plants were direct current (DC) stations used to power nearby arc and incandescent lighting. -
Nuclear Event - 1895
Wilhelm Roentgen, a German physicist, discovered X-rays. -
Nuclear Event - 1901
Rutherford and Soddy published the theory of radioactive decay. -
Geothermal Event - 1904
The first dry steam geothermal power plant was built in Larderello in Tuscany, Italy. The Larderello plant today provides power to about 1 million households. -
Photovoltaic Event - 1904
Wilhelm Hallwachs (German) discovered that a combination of copper and cuprous oxide was sensitive to light. -
Solar Thermal Event - 1921
Albert Einstein won the 1921 Nobel Prize in Physics for his theories that explained the photoelectric effect. -
Nuclear Event - 1938
The process of splitting uranium atoms, called nuclear fission, was demonstrated by scientists Otto Hahn and Fritz Strassman (Germany). -
Hydropower Event - 1949
Almost one-third of the Nation's electricity came from hydropower. -
Coal Event - 1973-74
The OPEC oil embargo focused attention on the energy crisis and resulted in an increase in demand for U.S. coal. -
Geothermal Event - 1984
Utah’s first commercial geothermal power plant began operating at Roosevelt Hot Springs with a 20 megawatt capacity.Nevada’s first geothermal binary power production plant began operating at Wabuska Hot Springs. -
Coal Event - 1986
The Clean Coal Technology Act passed. -
Coal Event - 1990
United States coal production topped 1 billion tons a year. -
Electricity Event - 2004
With the full color range of the high-power LEDs, more advanced architectural designs and stage and studio lighting were developed. Colored LEDs reduce power consumption.
