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Commercial production of coal begins in the United States near Richmond, Virginia. In the future, West Virginia is the site of the worst coal mine disasters
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Benjamin Franklin tests his theory that lightning is electricity. His discoveries pave the way for the development of electricity.
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The Industrial Revolution changes most of the world from man-labor to machine-labor. It begins in England, with the use of coal-powered steam engines.
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In Baltimore, Maryland, the street lights begin to be lit by gas instead of coal. In the country, they are the first ones ever to do so.
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Michael Farady creates the first electric motor.
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Peter Cooper designs and builds Tom Thumb, the first American built steam locomotive.
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Colonel Edwin Drake drills for oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and is successful. His success marks the beginning of the modern oil industry.
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Wood is currently the most popular way to heat homes and cook. Both homes and businesses rely on wood for their purposes.
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Thomas Edison starts the first coal-powered power station in New York City, which supplies energy for lighting households.
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The first hydroelectric power station opens up in Wisconsin. It generated its power through running water, and produced about 12.5 kW of power.
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The first large-scale wind turbine is created by Charles Brush. Wind power was used earlier, but only with extremely small models. This larger model could produce about 12 kW of power.
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Henry Ford introduces the first successful car, the Model T. It was made to be able to run on either gasoline, or ethanol.
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The first liquified natural gas plant opens in West Virginia after the discovery that gasoline could be separated into both a liquid and a gas.
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The first modern petroleum refinery is opened up in Martinez, California by Shell. Because cars are becoming popular, the demand for oil increases as well.
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The first modern offshore oil platform is built 1 mile off the shor of Louisiana. This platform was the first off many platforms to be built in the modern age.
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Oil replaces coal as the preferred method of heating homes.
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In Richland, Washington, the first nuclear reactor begins its operation.
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Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson and Daryl Chapin discover the silicon solar cell. The cell was able to produce enough electricity to run small electrical devices, and a few years later, solar cells become available commercially.
