Energy Use in the USA

By mbrum17

  • Introduction of the Newcomen steam engine

    Introduction of the Newcomen steam engine
    Invented by James Watt, this was the birth of the "modern" steam engine.

  • First Natural Gas Well is drilled

    First Natural Gas Well is drilled
    In 1821, William Hart drilled the first natural gas well in New York

  • Abraham Lincoln enacts an ethanol tax

    Abraham Lincoln enacts an ethanol tax
    In 1862, Lincoln enacted an ethanol tax to help fund the Civil War, and it hampered the ethanol fuel industry.

  • John D. Rockefeller develops pertroleum as a major energy source

    John D. Rockefeller develops pertroleum as a major energy source
    JD Rockefeller forms Standard Oil Company of Ohio and makes pertroleum a main power souce in the U.S.

  • Thomas Edison builds the first electric plant

    Thomas Edison builds the first electric plant
    On September 4th, 1882, Thomas Edison built the first electric plant in New York

  • First Hydroelectric Plant starts in Wisconsin

    First Hydroelectric Plant starts in Wisconsin
    The first commercial scale hydroelectric plants goes into operation in Appleton, Wisconsin on September 30th, 1882.

  • First Windmill to generate electricity

    First Windmill to generate electricity
    The first windmill to generate electricity is developed in Cleveland, Ohio

  • Hoover Dam is built

    Hoover Dam is built
    Hoover Dam, the largest hydroelectric plant in the world at its time, is built on the Colorado River

  • First commercial nuclear power plant

    First commercial nuclear power plant
    The first commercial nuclear power plant beings operation in Shippingport, Pennsylvania

  • Ivanpah goes online

    Ivanpah goes online
    Ivanpah, the world's largest concentrated solar power generation plant, goes online in California