The History of Energy

Coal Mining

Jun 25, 1740

Comercail coal mining began.

Oil

Jan 1, 1859

First oil production well was drilled in Pennsylvania.

Gas Engine

Jun 25, 1860

Etienne Lenoir invented the first gasoline engine.

Coal Burning

Jan 1, 1880

Coal becomes a popular and easy way to generate electricity.

Wind Energy

Jan 1, 1887

Charles Brush built the first automatically operating wind turbine.

Diesel Engine

Jan 1, 1892

Rudolph Diesel invented the first diesel engine.

Geothermal Energy

Jan 1, 1904

The first geothermal power plant is built in Laderello, Italy.

First Nuclear Reactor

Jan 1, 1952

THe first nuclear reactor used for comercial power was in Shippingport, PA.

First Solar Pannels

Jan 1, 1954

The first successful silicon solar collectors were made by American scientists.

Hydrogen Cell

Jan 1, 1998

First comercially used hydrogen cell was in Chicago buses.