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Period: to
Electrical Timeline
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1748: Commercial Coal Production Begins in U.S.
1748 was the first time commercial coal production occured in the U.S. This took place near Richmond, Virginia, where coal was found in 1701.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 -
1752: Ben Franklin's Discovery
The exact date is not know when Benjamin Franklin flew his kite in a thunderstorm with a key attached to it. On that night, though, he discovered that electricity could be harnessed.
http://www.electricityforum.com/ben-franklin-discover-electricity.html
http://www.americaslibrary.gov/aa/franklinb/aa_franklinb_subj.html -
1821: First U.S. Natural Gas Well
The first natural gas well was dug in 1821 in Fredonia, New York.
http://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015 -
1850: U.S. Wind Engine Company Founded
John Burnham and Daniel Halladay founded the U.S Wind Engine Company and constructed the Halladay Windmill.
http://energy.gov/eere/wind/history-wind-energy -
1859: First Oil Well Dug in Titusville, Penn.
The Drake Well was dug in 1859 in Titusville, Pennsylvania. The project was lead by Colonel Edwin Drake.
https://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/history/pennsylvania/pennsylvania.html -
1883: Design of Photovoltaic Cell Created
Photovoltaic cells were first designed by Charles Fritts, who was an American inventor.
http://energyinformative.org/the-history-of-solar-energy-timeline/ -
1905: Einstein's Paper on Photoelectric Effect
In 1905, Albert Einstein wrote a paper on the photoelectric effect and his photon theory.
http://energyinformative.org/the-history-of-solar-energy-timeline/
http://solarcellcentral.com/history_page.html -
1920: Hydroelctric Plants Built by Army Corps of Engineers
The Amry Corps of Engineers built several hydroelectric power plants in the 1920's. They were given authorization in 1920 by the U.S. Congress.
http://energy.gov/eere/water/history-hydropower -
1922: First U.S. Geothermal Power Plant
The first geothermal power plant constructed in the U.S. was built in 1922. It produced 250 kW of power.
http://www.conserve-energy-future.com/GeothermalEnergyHistory.php -
1942: First Man-Made Nuclear Chain Reaction
At the University of Chicago, Enrico Fermi was able to make the first man-made nuclear chain reation on the squash court.
http://www.whatisnuclear.com/articles/nuclear_history.html
http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1938/fermi-bio.html
