Historic Events in Energy By 12392004 Mar 10, 1590 Dutch build Windmills Period: Mar 10, 1590 to Apr 29, 1996 History of Energy Nov 19, 1700 Coal Begins to Displace Use of Other Energies Nov 29, 1748 First Commercial Coal Production in US Begins in Richmond, Virginia May 25, 1821 First Natural Gas Well in US Is Drilled Oct 24, 1830 Ethanol Blend Becomes Popular Lamp Fuel in US, Displacing Whale Oil Nov 4, 1870 John D. Rockefeller Forms Standard Oil and Develops Petroleum as a Major Energy Source in the US Oct 29, 1889 First Windmill to Generate Electricity Developed in Cleveland, Ohio Jun 8, 1906 The "Free Alcohol Bill" Is Signed to Promote the Use of Alcohol as an Alternative to Gasoline Nov 27, 1935 Hoover Dam, the World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant, Is Built Apr 29, 1996 Solar Two Plant Demonstrates Low Cost Method of Storing Solar Energy
