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Jan 1, 1000
The Invention of Fire as a Biomass source
The system won't let me, but fire was invented as the first biomass-using source of energy around 1.9 million years ago, according to fossil records. This was significant to America because it led to the development of all other modern sciences essentially and other energy fields. -
Watt patents a steam engine
The steam engine was a revolutionary source of mechanical power that quickly became widespread in America, primarily being used in manufacturing, but also in locomotion like in steam engine trains. -
First wave energy patent filed
Wave energy has been around in theory as a power source for centuries, but has not yet been widely employed as it has frequently lost funding as other energy sources became more prevelant. The first experimental wave farm was created in 2008, and depending on results could let US have yet another clean energy source. -
Kerosene is processed from petroleum
In the 1840's James Young developed a way to process distilled kerosene from petroleum. This allowed for refined oil to be available for widespread use across the globe, which America quickly incorporated into an energy source for itself. -
Early development of Solar Power starts
The development of solar energy began in the 1860's with a fear that coal was going to run out, but the research became stagnant as more natural coal and oil were found, and as such major devolpments did not happen until the late 20th century. -
Wind Energy comes to US
Charles F. Brush created a wind turbine during the winter between 1887-88 that powered his home and laboratory until around 1900. -
Geothermal Energy begins to be used for power in US
Geothermal energy use has been around for centuries in the form of hot springs, but in 1892 America's first district heating system was powered by geothermal energy -
US conducts study of large scale tidal plants
The US, along with Canada, did much of the inital studies into large-scale tidal plants. While they are not widely used yet, they have the potential to be a large source of clean energy in the future. -
Hoover dam completed
The Hoover Dam was a major hydroeletric project undertaken, among others, by the US government in order to provide clean energy at the time, as well as provide jobs in the form of public works. It was one of the more modern uses of hydroeletricity, although hydro power had been used by mills for hundreds of years prior. -
Manhattan Project completed
The Manhattan Project, while intended for military use, also pioneered the way for atomic energy power, through nuclear power plants in later developments after the weapon was developed, using the same concepts.
