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Coal Discovery
Coal was discovered near Richmond, Virginia,
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_coal
http://www.chemistryexplained.com/Ce-Co/Coal.html -
Steamboat
John Fitch successfully tested his invention, a 45-foot steamboat, in the Delaware River.
http://www.twainquotes.com/Steamboats/SteamboatCareer.html
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_transportation -
First Electric Battery
Alessandro Volta invented the first electric battery.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_electricity
http://tbatires.com/Batteries -
Natural Gas
Natural gas was used in Baltimore to fuel street lamps.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_naturalgas
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/natural-gas-energy.htm -
Oil
Oil was first discovered when a homemade rig near Titusville, Pennsylvania drilled down 70 feet and came up coated with oil.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_petroleum
https://www.google.com/search?q=oil&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS722US722&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwig8o7sgc7UAhWG8CYKHT9xAWwQ_AUIBygC&biw=1517&bih=654#tbm=isch&q=oil&chips=q:oil,g_1:petroleum&imgrc=ZHm_troJ-OmYLM: -
First Solar Cell
American Charles Fritts built the first genuine solar cell with an efficiency rate between 1% to 2%.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_solarthermal
https://www.google.com/search?q=solar+cell&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS722US722&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjhv5Pwgs7UAhWCQSYKHeK4C4wQ_AUIDCgD&biw=1517&bih=654#imgrc=EBlDqQ9G-KalUM: -
Wind Energy
Charles F. Brush used the first large windmill to generate electricity in Cleveland, Ohio. In later years, General Electric acquired Brush's company, Brush Electric Co.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_wind
https://www.google.com/search?q=wind+mill&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS722US722&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwi0m9XTg87UAhWCOCYKHUCPCS0Q_AUICigB&biw=1517&bih=708#imgrc=8koTotlkQT14sM: -
Hoover Dam
The Hoover Dam began operating on the Colorado River. The hydropower plant produced up to 130,000 kilowatts of electricity.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_hydropower
https://www.google.com/search?q=hoover+dam&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS722US722&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjXr4rkgM7UAhUB0iYKHWZQCt8Q_AUICygC&biw=1517&bih=654#imgrc=n9l9LsEF3T__zM: -
Geothermal Energy
The first commercial-scale development tools were placed in California at The Geysers, a 10-megawatt unit owned by Pacific Gas & Electric.
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_geothermal
http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/how-geothermal-energy-works.html -
Nuclear Energy
For the first time, nuclear energy was producing more electricity than oil in the USA.
https://energy.gov/ne/nuclear-energy-technical-assistance
https://www.eia.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=tl_nuclear