Major Energy Events

First Electric Plant Built by Thomas Edison in New York

Sep 4, 1884

'Thomas Edison built the first commercial electric utility near Wall Street.'

First Windmill to Generate Electricity Developed in Cleveland, Ohio

Mar 30, 1888

"Charles F. Brush develops the world's first windmill that can generate electricity."

World's First Geothermal Power Plant Is Built in California

Jan 28, 1921

"John D. Grant drilled a geothermal well and ran a small direct-current generator which was used to provide electricity for lighting The Geysers resort."

Einstein writes President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Aug 2, 1939

"Albert Einstein writes President Franklin D. Roosevelt, alerting the President to the importance of research on nuclear chain reactions and the possibility that research might lead to developing powerful bombs. Einstein notes that Germany has stopped the sale of uranium and German physicists are engaged in uranium research."

Sythetic Lquid Fuels Act

Apr 4, 1944

"Congress passes the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act authorizing the Bureau of Mines to build energy research laboratories."

Energy Activities Transferred

Jan 1, 1947

"In accordance with the Atomic Energy Act of 1946, all atomic energy activities are transferred to the newly created Atomic Energy Commission."

Atomic Energy Commission

Oct 9, 1950

"President Truman approves a $1.4 billion expansion of Atomic Energy Commission facilities to produce uranium and plutonium for nuclear weapons."

Electric Power from a Nuclear Reactor

Dec 20, 1951

"The Experimental Breeder Reactor No. 1 located at the National Reactor Testing Station near Arco, Idaho, produces the first electric power from a nuclear reactor."

Solar Power System

Mar 9, 1960

First Solar Power System Developed in France to Produce Steam to Drive Machinery.

Three Gorges Dam

Dec 14, 1994

This dam was built to obtain more energy to fuel the economy. To this day it is still being worked on. This dam caused many environmental problems.