Key Historical Energy Events By amccaul800 Sep 4, 1882 First electric plant built by Thomas Edison in New York Sep 30, 1882 First commercial scale hydroelectric plant goes into operation Jan 1, 1888 First windmill to generate electricity was built in Cleveland, Ohio Mar 13, 1892 Worlds first geothermal district heating system built in Boise, Idaho Jan 1, 1900 First diesel engine to run on vegetable oil demonstrated at worlds fair in Paris Jun 8, 1906 The "Free Alcohol Bill" was signed to promote the use of alcohol as an alternative to gasoline Jan 1, 1908 Worlds first flex fuel vehicle the Model T goes into mass production Jan 1, 1921 Worlds first geothermal power plant is built in california Jan 1, 1927 First commercial wind turbine sold to generate electricity on a remote farm Jan 1, 1935 Hoover Dam is finished on Colorado River becoming the largest hydroelectric power plant in the world.
