Historical Energy Events By hannahpressley 2000 BCE Chinese are the first to use coal as an energy cource Feb 3, 1712 First Steam Engine Developed in England to Pump Water Out of Coal Mines Feb 3, 1748 First Commercial Coal Production in US Begins in Richmond, Virginia Feb 3, 1821 First Natural Gas Well in US Is Drilled Feb 3, 1838 First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Developed to Generate Electricity Sep 4, 1882 First Electric Plant Built by Thomas Edison in New York Feb 3, 1921 World's First Geothermal Power Plant Is Built in California Feb 3, 1924 First Federal Law Established to Control Pollution from the Oil Industry Feb 3, 1935 Hoover Dam, the World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant, Is Built Dec 2, 1957 First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Begins Operation in Shippingport, Pennsylvania