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Period: to
Historical Energy Events
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First Natural Gas Well Drilled in the US
Natural gas was used almost exclusively as a source of light. Most of the natural gas in this time period was produced from manufacture coal. -
Coal Used to Make Iron
A revolution occured in the making of wrought iron through the use of furnaces that used coal in Pennyslyvania. -
Windmill Used for Water Pumping
Daniel Halladay perfected the windmill and the western railroad builders were the first to use the windmill to provide water to the workers. -
First Solar Power System Developed in France
Augustine Mouchot was worried about the possibility of fossil fuels running out so he developed a solar powered steam generation system to drive industrial machinery. -
Petroleum Becomes Major Source of Energy
The John D. Rockefeller Standard Oil company formed which gave the petroleum industry technological advances which allowed it to become society's major source of energy for the United States. There was an immense potential for petroleum. -
First Electric Plant Built
Thomas Edison built the first commercial electric utility plant in the United States in New York. It covered a square one mile radius. -
First Hydroelectric Plant in Operation
The first successful hydroelectric plant was in Appleton, Wisconsin. This was a significant engineering achievement which served a system of private and commercial customers. -
First Geothermal Power Plant Built
The first geothermal power plant was built in California from the Geysers resort where a geothermal well was drilled and a small direct-current generator was used to provide electricity for the Geysers resort. -
Hoover Dam Built
The Hoover Dam was completed 4 years after its construction began and was the largest hydroelectric produce at its time of construction and was until 1948. -
First Nuclear Power Reactor to Generate Electricity Built
The Argonne National Labratory scientists designed and built the first nuclear reactor in Idaho which only provided enough enrgy for four light bulbs. -
Strategic Petroleum Reserve is formed
President Ford signed into law the Energy Policy and Conservation Act in order to reduce the impact of sever enery suply interruptions. -
First Wind Farm Built
The first wind farm was built in New Hampshire which consisted of 20 wind turbines at 30 kilowatts each. The turbines frequently broke though which led to improved designs. -
New Power Plants Approved
The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission approves new nuclear power plants for the first time since 1978. They will be built in Georgia.
