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In 1748 the first commercial production of coal began in Midlothian, Virginia. Coal from these mines were used in gunpowder during the American revolution
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With the invention of the steam engine, the Industrial revolution begins. This was a period characterized by increased mechanization of the labor force. Coal became the predominant fuel.
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Michael faraday invents the electric motor. This helped pave way for future developments in electricity and electric power.
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In 1859, Edwin Drake was the first american to drill for oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania. This paved way for the American oil industry.
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THe standard oil corporation was chartered in Ohio. John D. Rockefeller and his associates created the corporation. It would later gain a monopoly of oil refineries.
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Thomas Edison and his team create the first long lasting incandescent lightbulb. This allows the masses to utilize electric power for light.
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Henry Ford creates the Model T Ford. It could run on either gasoline or ethanol. The cheap mass produced car enabled motorized vehicles to be driven by the masses. The Model T ford could run on either gasoline or ethanol.
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In 1931, on the Caspian Sea in Russia, the first electricity generating windmill was created. It generated about 100 kilowatts of electricity.
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THe first photovoltaic cells were used to power satellites. These were created by Bell Laboratories. The photovoltaic effect was obserserved beforehand, thsi was the first time it was utilized into electricity.
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In Shippingport, Pennsylvania the Shippingport Atomic Power Station was comissioned. This was the first commercial nuclear power plant. It was operated by the Duquesne Light Company.
