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Coal production begins
Commercial production of coal begins in the United States near Richmond, Virginia. In the future, West Virginia is the site of the worst coal mine disasters -
Lightning = Electricity?
Benjamin Franklin tests his theory that lightning is electricity. His discoveries pave the way for the development of electricity. -
Period: to
Industrial Revolution
The Industrial Revolution changes most of the world from man-labor to machine-labor. It begins in England, with the use of coal-powered steam engines. -
Street lights are now gas-lit
In Baltimore, Maryland, the street lights begin to be lit by gas instead of coal. In the country, they are the first ones ever to do so. -
First electric motor is created
Michael Farady creates the first electric motor. -
First steam-powered locomotive is created
Peter Cooper designs and builds Tom Thumb, the first American built steam locomotive. -
Oil drilling begins
Colonel Edwin Drake drills for oil in Titusville, Pennsylvania, and is successful. His success marks the beginning of the modern oil industry. -
Wood is popular
Wood is currently the most popular way to heat homes and cook. Both homes and businesses rely on wood for their purposes. -
First coal-powered power station
Thomas Edison starts the first coal-powered power station in New York City, which supplies energy for lighting households. -
Hydroelectricity makes its debut
The first hydroelectric power station opens up in Wisconsin. It generated its power through running water, and produced about 12.5 kW of power. -
Wind power makes its debut
The first large-scale wind turbine is created by Charles Brush. Wind power was used earlier, but only with extremely small models. This larger model could produce about 12 kW of power. -
The first automobile is created
Henry Ford introduces the first successful car, the Model T. It was made to be able to run on either gasoline, or ethanol. -
Liquified gas makes it debut
The first liquified natural gas plant opens in West Virginia after the discovery that gasoline could be separated into both a liquid and a gas. -
First modern petroleum refinery is created
The first modern petroleum refinery is opened up in Martinez, California by Shell. Because cars are becoming popular, the demand for oil increases as well. -
First offshore oil platform is created
The first modern offshore oil platform is built 1 mile off the shor of Louisiana. This platform was the first off many platforms to be built in the modern age. -
Period: to
Oil > Coal
Oil replaces coal as the preferred method of heating homes. -
Nuclear power makes its debut
In Richland, Washington, the first nuclear reactor begins its operation. -
Solar power makes its debut
Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson and Daryl Chapin discover the silicon solar cell. The cell was able to produce enough electricity to run small electrical devices, and a few years later, solar cells become available commercially.
