Historical energy events

Coal begins to displace use of other energies

1700

Coal could be used more efficiently than other energies like using it for the steam engine or smelting iron. http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 https://www.google.com/search?q=first+power+plant+in+new+york&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI0c64jt_UAhVIWD4KHUj-DAgQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=coal+burning&imgrc=BlMTF0CaijXe6M:

First Steam Engine Developed in England to Pump Water Out of Coal Mines

1712

used to pump water out of the mines http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015

First solar power system

1860

Used solar power to produce steam to drive machinery http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015

First Electric Plant

Sep 4, 1882

First electric plant built by Thomas Edison was built in New York which power a square mile area. http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 https://www.google.com/search?q=first+power+plant+in+new+york&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI0c64jt_UAhVIWD4KHUj-DAgQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1375&bih=604#imgrc=IirCWeSeZwli5M:

World's First Geothermal Power Plant

1921

World's first geothermal power plant was built in California, but the materials they used couldn't withstand the environment there and it couldn't compete with lower cost energies. https://www.google.com/search?q=first+commercially+sold+wind+turbine&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVtcjsi9_UAhVMHD4KHZWCBJwQ_AUIBigB&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=first+geothermal+power+plant+in+california&imgrc=IQYdnlaZV0E8QM:

First Commercial Wind Turbines Sold

1927

Marcellus and Joe Jacobs develop the first commercially available wind turbine for electricity generation and the turbines were sold to remote farms mainly.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 https://www.google.com/search?q=first+commercially+sold+wind+turbine&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjVtcjsi9_UAhVMHD4KHZWCBJwQ_AUIBigB&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=first+commercially+sold+wind+turbine+1927

Hoover Dam

1935

World's largest hydro-electric power plant and is located on the Colorado river. http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 https://www.google.com/search?q=nuclear+chain+reaction&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk_sGOht_UAhWIcz4KHZVRADcQ_AUICigB&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=Hoover+dam&imgrc=z4hZsnzLk9V4JM:

First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction

1942

Fermi was a scientist who first discovered the nuclear chain reaction http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 https://www.google.com/search?q=nuclear+chain+reaction&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk_sGOht_UAhWIcz4KHZVRADcQ_AUICigB&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=first+nuclear+chain+reaction&imgrc=k4Br34OQHqRkaM:

First Nuclear Power Reactor

Dec 20, 1951

First nuclear power plant produces electricity in Idaho http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 https://www.google.com/search?q=nuclear+chain+reaction&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk_sGOht_UAhWIcz4KHZVRADcQ_AUICigB&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=first+nuclear+power+plant+in+idaho

First Commercial Nuclear Power

Dec 2, 1957

First commercial nuclear power plant goes online in Pennsylvania. The first large scale nuclear power plant in the world and went online exactly 15 years after the first nuclear chain reaction was found. https://www.google.com/search?q=nuclear+chain+reaction&safe=active&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjk_sGOht_UAhWIcz4KHZVRADcQ_AUICigB&biw=1375&bih=604#safe=active&tbm=isch&q=first+commercial+nuclear+power+plant+in+shippingport+PA&imgrc=w1pY4rQGEGI-3M: