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First Commercial Coal Production
In Richmond, Virginia, coal was being mined and produced commercially for the first time. -
First Natural Gas Well Drilled in US
In Fredonia, New York, the first well specifically for natural gas was dug. The well was dug by William Hart, known as the "father of natural gas". -
Coal is Primary Locomotive Fuel in US
When the Tom Thumb (the first commercially practical US built locomotive), was manufactured, coal became the main form of fuel for locomotives, and most wood burning transitioned to coal. -
The Windmill Becomes a Popular Tool for Water Pumping in the West
As westward expansion grew, so did need for resources. The settlers needed water, and the windmill pumped it to places. -
First Electric Plant Built
In New York, Thomas Edison built the first power plant in America. It powered the homes of some very wealthy and influential people. -
Ford Model-T Goes into Mass Production
This was the Worlds first Flex Fuel Vehicle, designed by Henry Ford. It could run on either ethanol or gasoline. -
World's First Geothermal Power Plant
In California, a power plant was created using geothermal energy from The Geysers. -
First Commercial Wind Turbines
These were used to generate energy on remote farms. These were developed by Marcellus and Joe Jacobs. -
Hoover Dam was Built
The hoover dam, which is the worlds largest hydroelectric power plant (at the time) is built. It is on the Colorado River in Arizona. -
First Large Scale Solar-Thermal Power Plant
In Daggett, California, "Solar One" becomes operational. It was designed by the Department of Energy, Southern California Edison, and the California Energy Commission.
