History of Energy Use in the US

By WesleyGuo

  • First Commercial Coal

    First Commercial Coal
    The first instance of commercial coal production begins in Virginia

  • Ben Franklin's Lighting Experiments

    Ben Franklin's Lighting Experiments
    Benjamin Franlkin links lighting to electricity, which kickstarts the development of electrcity

  • Steam Engine is invented

    Steam Engine is invented
    Invention of the steam engine dramatically increases human consumption of coal and other fossil fuels

  • Rise of Railways

    Rise of Railways
    The increasing popularity of railways led to an even greater demand for coal.

  • Drilling for Oil

    Drilling for Oil
    Edwin Drake drills for oil for the first time in the US, opening up a new energy source

  • First Coal Power Plant

    First Coal Power Plant
    The first Coal fired Power Plant to produce electricty is started by Thomas Edison

  • First Hydroelectric Plant

    First Hydroelectric Plant
    The first hydroelectric plant opens

  • Rise of Oil

    Rise of Oil
    Prevalence of cars means that Oil is now the most used source of energy

  • First Solar Panels

    First Solar Panels
    The first solar panels are invented (around 1950), and are first used on satellites

  • First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant

    First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant
    The Shippingport reactor in Pennsylvania goes online