Change in US Energy Sourcing over Time

By austin_waddell_NCVPS
  • Period: to

    History of US Energy

  • Coal Production Begins

    Coal Production Begins
    Commercial production of coal in the US begins near Richmond, Virginia.

  • Discovery of Electricity

    Discovery of Electricity
    Ben Franklins discovers that lightning is electricity. This leads to to increased experimentation with electrical current.

  • Coal Takes Off

    Coal Takes Off
    In the 1800's, coal became the major fuel used by railroads. It also was used as fuel in homes for cooking and heating.

  • Oil is Found

    Oil is Found
    Edwin Drake successfully drills for oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania. His findings are collected ina bathtub.

  • Wood is Popular

    Wood is Popular
    Wood is the most popular fuel for heasting homes and for cooking; wood is relied upon heavily.

  • First Power Station

    First Power Station
    Thomas Edison starts the first coal-fired power station in New York City.

  • First Hydropower Station

    First Hydropower Station
    The first hydroelectric power station opens on the Fox River in Appleton, Wisconsin.

  • Wind Harnessed for Power

    Wind Harnessed for Power
    Danish inventor Poul La Cour builds first wind turbine for generating power.

  • Model T First Produced

    Model T First Produced
    Henry Ford begins producing the Model T car in 1908. It runs in both gasoline and ethanol.

  • First Nuclear Power Plant

    First Nuclear Power Plant
    The first nuclear power plant, Shippingport Atomic Power Station, opens in Shippingport, Pennsylvania.

  • Links

    http://www.shell.us/environment-society/education/student/energy-timeline.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poul_la_cour http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_T http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/index.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Edison