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Drake Well builds Oil Well.
George Bissell and Edwin L. Drake successfully drill for petroleum oil with a well near Titusville, Pennsylvania. -
Charles Fritts developes first Solar Cell
American inventor Charles Fritts develops first Solar Cell out of selenium adn a thin layer of gold. -
Coal surpasses firewood.
At this time in US history, coal surpassed firewood as the nation's primary energy source. -
Coal strike of 1902
In 1902, workers mining coal went on strike in Pennsylvania demanding higher wages, fewer hours and recognition of the union. -
Monongah Mining Disaster
At the Monongah coal mine in West Virginia, a possible methane ignition set coal dust on fire and killed hundreds of miners. -
East Texas Oil Field found.
The largest oil filed in the consecutive 38 states was found at this time, the East Texas Oil Field. -
Grand Coulee Dam completed.
The Grand Coulee Dam, located on teh Columbia River, is completed this year. To this day it is the largest electric-power generating facitility in the United States. -
Coal loses its edge.
At about this time, coal was surpassed by both petroleum and natural gas. -
EBR-1 tested
The EBR-1 reactor is tested Southeast of Arco, Idaho. This is the fisrt time nuclear power is used to make electricity, powering 4 lightbulbs, as seen in the image. -
1973 Oil Crisis
In October 1973, when OAPEC declared an oil embargo, oil prices in the US skyrocketed.
