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Commercial coal production begins in the United States near Richmond, Virginia.
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Edward Drake first drills oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania. His findings were collected in an old bathtub.
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Thomas Edison starts the first coal-powered power plant in New York City. It supplied electricity for lighting houses.
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The first liquefied natural gas plant opens in West Virginia.
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The nation's first modern petroleum refinery was founded by Shell in Martinez, California.
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Oil is discovered in Signal Hill, California by Shell. This oil field became the most prolific in United States history.
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The first commercial nuclear power plant goes into service in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. It produces energy by splitting apart atoms of uranium.
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The University of Delaware builds Solar One,one of the world's first photovoltaic residences.
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The U.S. space program successfully uses fuel cells on board two spacecrafts: The Gemini and Apollo.
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President Bush calls for greater use of alternative energies in his State of Union Address.
