Energy consumption in us economy

Energy Use Throughout U.S. History

By hcdwokrin

  • The Begining of Commercial Coal Production

    The Begining of Commercial Coal Production
    The commercial procuction of coal started in Virginia in 1748.

  • The Industrial Revolution

    The Industrial Revolution
    As steamships and steam powered railroads were becoming major forms of transportation within the United States, the Industrial Revolution was also beginning. These railroads and ships used coal to fuel their boilers.

  • First Natural Gas Well in U.S. is Drilled

    First Natural Gas Well in U.S. is Drilled
    The first well made exlusively for producing natural gas was dug in Fredonia, New York, by William Hart, the 'father of natural gas' During this period of time, natural gas was used as a source of light, most notably in street lamps, because it was hard to transport the gas very far without a pipeline infrastructure.

  • Thomas Edison Starts Pearl Street Station

    Thomas Edison Starts Pearl Street Station
    Pearl Street Station, the first central power plant in America was built by Thomas Edison to light street lamps, as well as homes and buildings by using the advamtage of grid electricity.

  • Albert Einstein Publishes First Theoretical Paper Describing the Photoelectric Effect

    Albert Einstein Publishes First Theoretical Paper Describing the Photoelectric Effect
    Albert Einstein's first theoretical work gave researchers a better understanding of photo electricity. He brought to light...
    how light carries 'energy packets' which he called light quanta.

  • World's First Geothermal Power Plant Is Built in California

    World's First Geothermal Power Plant Is Built in California
    John D. Grant digs a geothermal well, which powered the Geyser Resort using a small direct-current genrator.

  • Hoover Dam, the World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant, Is Built

    Hoover Dam, the World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant, Is Built
    By the time the Hoover Dam was finished being built, it produced the most hydroelectric energy in the world.

  • Petroleum Becomes Most Used Fuel in the US

    Petroleum Becomes Most Used Fuel in the US
    As cars became more popular in the U.S., petroleum was becoming more neccessary.

  • First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Begins Operation in Shippingport, Pennsylvania

    First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Begins Operation in Shippingport, Pennsylvania
    15 years after the first succesful test of a nuclear chain reaction, a government-owned nuclear power plant begins in Pennsylvania.

  • US Begins Importing More Petroleum Than It Produces

    US Begins Importing More Petroleum Than It Produces
    At the competitive price set by countries exporting oil, America finds it difficult to keep up.