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Period: to
History of the United States
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First gas-powered street light in the USA.
Baltimore, Maryland becomes the first city in the country to have street lights fueled by gases from coal. -
Edwin Drake successfully drills for oil in Pennsylvania.
Oil is found from drilling in Titusville, Pennsylvania by Edwin Drake, who was working for Seneca Oil Company. -
Thomas Edison starts electrical power distribution center in New York.
Thomas Edison officially turns on his patented electrical power distribution system to provide direct current electricity to 59 customers. -
First hydroelectric power station.
The first hydroelectric power station is turned on in Appleton, Wisconsin, and begins supplying electricity for the local area. -
Henry Ford introduces the Ford Model T
Henry Ford begins production of the first "affordable" automobile using assembly lines. This Model T can run on gasoline or ethanol. -
First petroleum refinery.
First continuous process petroleum refinery completed by Shell Oil Company in West Virginia. This refinery serves as the model for many US refineries for years to come. -
First commercial liquefacion plant.
LNG begins being liquefied in plant in Cleveland, Ohio. -
Oil becomes the most used energy source.
The widespread usage of the automobile brings oil to the top of the most used energy sources. -
Solar power becomes possibility.
Researchers in the space program invent photovoltaic cells to convert solar energy into electricity. -
First commercial nuclear power plant
Shippingport, Pennsylvania becomes the site of the first commercial nuclear power plant, through the splitting of uranium.
