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1748 was the first time commercial coal production occured in the U.S. This took place near Richmond, Virginia, where coal was found in 1701.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 -
The exact date is not know when Benjamin Franklin flew his kite in a thunderstorm with a key attached to it. On that night, though, he discovered that electricity could be harnessed.
http://www.electricityforum.com/ben-franklin-discover-electricity.html
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/franklinb/aa_franklinb_subj.html -
The first natural gas well was dug in 1821 in Fredonia, New York.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 -
John Burnham and Daniel Halladay founded the U.S Wind Engine Company and constructed the Halladay Windmill.
http://energy.gov/eere/wind/history-wind-energy -
The Drake Well was dug in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania. The project was lead by Colonel Edwin Drake.
https://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/history/pennsylvania/pennsylvania.html -
Photovoltaic cells were first designed by Charles Fritts, who was an American inventor.
http://energyinformative.org/the-history-of-solar-energy-timeline/ -
In 1905, Albert Einstein wrote a paper on the photoelectric effect and his photon theory.
http://energyinformative.org/the-history-of-solar-energy-timeline/
http://solarcellcentral.com/history_page.html -
The Amry Corps of Engineers built several hydroelectric power plants in the 1920's. They were given authorization in 1920 by the U.S. Congress.
http://energy.gov/eere/water/history-hydropower -
The first geothermal power plant constructed in the U.S. was built in 1922. It produced 250 kW of power.
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/GeothermalEnergyHistory.php -
At the University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi was able to make the first man-made nuclear chain reation on the squash court.
http://www.whatisnuclear.com/articles/nuclear_history.html
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1938/fermi-bio.html
