Makind's History Using Fossil Fuels

Coal

2000 BCE

Chinese first to use coal as an energy source

Natural Gas

200 BCE

Chinesse develop natural gas as an energy source

Water Energy Mills

200 BCE

Europeans harness water energy to power mills.

Natural Gas Well

Dec 8, 1812

First natural gas well in the U.S. is drilled.

Solar Powered Systems

Dec 8, 1860

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

Ethanol Taxes

Dec 8, 1862

Abraham Lincoln Enacts an Ethanol Tax to Help Finance the Civil War, Severely Hampering the Ethanol Fuel Industry.

Japanese Coal Mines

Jan 1, 1868

Japanese governments in the Meiji era (1868-1912) start opening coal mines. (https://www.mhi-global.com/discover/earth/issue/history/history.html)

First Electric Plant

Sep 4, 1882

First Electric Plant Built by Thomas Edison in New York

First Petroleum Powered Car

Jan 1, 1885

The Free Alcohol Bill

Jun 8, 1906

The "Free Alcohol Bill" Is Signed to Promote the Use of Alcohol as an Alternative to Gasoline

Hoover Dam Built

Dec 8, 1935

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

First Natural Gas Laws

Dec 8, 1938

Natural Gas Act: First Direct Federal Regulation of Natural Gas Industry.

First Oil Industry Control Law

Dec 8, 1942

First Federal Law Established to Control Pollution from the Oil Industry

2003 Non-mandatory Directive

Jan 1, 2003

A directive promoting the use of biofuels or other renewable fuels for transport- not mandatory.

Clean Power Plan

Aug 3, 2015

President Obama Announces Clean Power Plan, Imposing the First Nationwide Limits on Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plants