History of US energy use By verellen Sep 28, 1748 Commercial production of coal begins Sep 28, 1800 Coal becomes the main source of fuel for the railorad companies Sep 28, 1821 The first electric motor is built Sep 28, 1859 Edwin Drake is the first to drill for oil. His first findings are held in a bathtub Sep 28, 1882 Thomas Edison builds the first coal fueled power station. It was built in NYC for lighting households. Sep 28, 1882 First hydroelectricty source is built built in wisconsin Sep 28, 1891 First windmill is made to use wind as energy Sep 28, 1894 nuclear energy becomes the second largest source of energy in the US Sep 28, 1908 First car is made It can run on ethanol or gasoline. Sep 28, 1915 First petroleum refinery is built Sep 28, 1950 Oil becomes the most popular source of energy Sep 28, 1957 First commercial nuclear plant Sep 28, 1990 The first electric car is produced
