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Wood
In the early 1700s, wood was burned as fuel.Water and wind were used to power simple machines, but wood was the primary source of energy because it was abundant and easily transported. -
Beginning
Declaration of Independence is signed, and the new country of America begins to use energy -
Coal
Coal use began in the early 1800s. Some of the first commercial coal mines began operating all over the world, and it quickly became more popular than wood because of the Industrial Revolution. -
Oil and Natural Gas
Oil and Natural Gas became popular in the early 1900s.In the mid-1900s they became widely used in space heating, electric power generation and as transportation fuels. -
Nuclear Power
Commercial production of nuclear energy began in the early 1950s and began to rapidly increae in the early 1970s. -
Nuclear Submarine
The Navy unveils the first nuclear powered submarine -
Economic Downturn
The oil and natural gas industry enjoyed steady growth for almost 50 years, but the economic downturn of the early 1970s resulted in decreased demand. -
National Energy Act
The National Energy Act was signed by President Carter, and it was supposed to alleviate the National Energy Crisis -
Climate Change Action Plan
President Clinton unveils the Climate Change Acton plan, which was meant to reduce green house gas emissions -
Present day
The U.S. is turning torwards greener energy sources
