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Historical Energy Events in the U.S.

By aconville7213

  • First Electric Plant Built

    First Electric Plant Built
    At 3pm on September 4th, 1882, the United States first power plant turned on and lit 400 lamps. Thomas Edison was the head of the company that built the plant. It was fueled by coal and initially served 82 customers.

  • Albert Einstein Publishes Theorectical Paper On Photoelectric Energy

    Albert Einstein Publishes Theorectical Paper On Photoelectric Energy
    This paper was key in many scientific discoveries to follow. It discussed how light contains packets of energy, or as he called them "light quanta". This combined with the discovery of the electron allowed scientists to reach new heights.

  • World's First Geothermal Plant Was Built

    World's First Geothermal Plant Was Built
    It located in California, 72 miles north from San Fransisco. The geothermal well was drilled by John D. Grant. It eventually used a small direct generator to provide lighting for The Geyser Resort.

  • The Hooverdam is Built

    The Hooverdam is Built
    The Hoover Dam was built on the Colorado River in Arizona. Construction of the Hoover Dam began in 1931 and it was finished in 1935 and began operating in 1936. It was the largest producer of hydroelectricity until 1948.

  • First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction

    First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction
    The "Manhattan Project" carried out this chain reaction in a stadium at the University of Chicago. This was used for the creation of atomic bombs.

  • First Nuclear Reactor of Generate Electricity Built

    First Nuclear Reactor of Generate Electricity Built
    This reactor was the first to produce useful electricity. It produced barely enough energy to power a string of four 100-watt light bulbs, but nonetheless it was used a model for many future nuclear reactors.

  • US Congress Passes Atomic Energy Act of 1954

    US Congress Passes Atomic Energy Act of 1954
    This act allowed atomic energy to be used by the military and civilians for peaceful purposes. he 1954 act assigned the AEC three major roles: to continue its weapons program, to promote the private use of atomic energy for peaceful applications, and to protect public health and safety from the hazards of commercial nuclear power.

  • First Commerical Nuclear Power Plant Begins Operation

    First Commerical Nuclear Power Plant Begins Operation
    It is the first large scale nuclear power plant. It began operating out of Shippingport, Pennsylvania. It was built on the Ohio River.

  • First US Satellite in Orbit Utilizes Solar Cells for Power

    First US Satellite in Orbit Utilizes Solar Cells for Power
    This technology was used as a power source for a top secret U.S. Army and Air Force project. This project was earth orbiting satellites. The Navy was strongly against Dr. Hans Ziegler's idea of silicon solar cells and wanted to use batteries instead. Despite this, Dr. Ziegler refused to back down and the Navy eventually compromised by creating a dual power system of chemical batteries and silicon solar cells. The batteries quickly failed, while the solar cells thrived, as Dr. Ziegler predicted.

  • World's First Wind Farm Built

    World's First Wind Farm Built
    The wind farm was built on the shoulder of Crotched Mountain in New Hampshire. It had 20 wind turbines with wind rates at 30 kilowatts. It failed because the equipment kept breaking and it was a weak market. The company officially filed for bankruptcy in 1996.