Significant Moments in Energy History

By khill15
  • First Commercial Coal Production in US

    First Commercial Coal Production in US
    Company was founded by Woolridge family, It provided the coal for the White House.
  • First Natural Gas Well Drilled in America

    First Natural Gas Well Drilled in America
    In Fredonia, William Hart noticed bubbles in a river. He then dug 27 feet to discover natural Gas. William Hart is known as the father of natural gas.
  • First Commercial Oil Well

    First Commercial Oil Well
    In Titusville, Pennslyvania, Edwin Drake Hit oil at 71 feet. His dril was powered by a steam engine. At the time, whale oil was becoming unfashionable and kerosene was becoing more popular.
  • Standard Oil is Formed

    Standard Oil is Formed
    John D Rockerfeller founded the cmpany in cleveland ohil. Eventually Standard Oil owned 90% of the petroleom.
  • First Commercial Hydroelectric Plant

    First Commercial Hydroelectric Plant
    In Appleton, Wisconsin, one of the first hydroelectric plants was built. While small at first, it eventually power much of the surrounding area. The plant powered the first electricly powered hotel in the west.
  • First Windmill to Generate Electricity

    First Windmill to Generate Electricity
    Developed in Cleveland, Ohio. The windmill was designed by
    Charles F. Brush. The speed of the dynamo at full load is 500 revolutions per minute, and its normal capacity at full load is 12,000 watts.
  • First District Geothermal Heating System

    First District Geothermal Heating System
    Boise, Idaho becomes the worlds first town to use geothermal heating. After a few years, the system served 200 homes and 40 businesses.
  • Oil Discovered in Texas

    Oil Discovered in Texas
    A gusher of oild burst for nine days signaling the start of a new era in oil industry. By todays standards, 17 million dollars of oil was lost duriing the gusher at spindletop hill. The price of oil fell from $2 dollars a barrel to $.03 a barrel.
  • Hoover Dam

    Hoover Dam
    Construction starts on the worlds biggest hydroelectric power plant. It is built on the Colorado River in Arizona
  • First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant

    First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant
    Plant opens in Shippingport, Pennsylvania. Provided energy to the Pittsburg area. It was shut down in 1982. Became first decontamination and decommisioning of a plant in the United States.