History of Energy Use in the US

By WesleyGuo
  • First Commercial Coal

    First Commercial Coal

    The first instance of commercial coal production begins in Virginia
  • Ben Franklin's Lighting Experiments

    Ben Franklin's Lighting Experiments

    Benjamin Franlkin links lighting to electricity, which kickstarts the development of electrcity
  • Steam Engine is invented

    Steam Engine is invented

    Invention of the steam engine dramatically increases human consumption of coal and other fossil fuels
  • Rise of Railways

    Rise of Railways

    The increasing popularity of railways led to an even greater demand for coal.
  • Drilling for Oil

    Drilling for Oil

    Edwin Drake drills for oil for the first time in the US, opening up a new energy source
  • First Coal Power Plant

    First Coal Power Plant

    The first Coal fired Power Plant to produce electricty is started by Thomas Edison
  • First Hydroelectric Plant

    First Hydroelectric Plant

    The first hydroelectric plant opens
  • Rise of Oil

    Rise of Oil

    Prevalence of cars means that Oil is now the most used source of energy
  • First Solar Panels

    First Solar Panels

    The first solar panels are invented (around 1950), and are first used on satellites
  • First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant

    First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant

    The Shippingport reactor in Pennsylvania goes online