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Benjamin Franklin Flies a Kite in a Lightning Storm
When Franklin's kite got struck by lightning and he collected a charge in a Leyden jar, he was able to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. This led him to many experiments where he coined many terms including battery, conductor, and electrician.
Source: http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/franklin-flies-kite-during-thunderstorm
Photo Source: “Lightning Grips the Sky” by William Greene is licensed under CC BY 2.0 -
First Natural Gas Well in US Is Drilled
In Fredonia, New York, William Hart dug the first well specifically intended to obtain natural gas. Because of this, many people refer to Hart as the "father of natural gas" in America.
Source: https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1800-1899
Photo Source: www.fossil.energy.gov -
John D. Rockefeller Forms Standard Oil
John D Rockefeller created the Standard Oil Company in order to gain control of the industry. He was able to do just that by buying out rival companys and creating a monopoly on oil. Rockefeller's company was important because it developed petroleum as a major energy source in the US.
Source: https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1800-1899
Photo Source: “John Davison Rockefeller” by King, Moses, 1853-1909 is licensed under CC0 1.0 -
Thomas Edison Creates the Lightbulb
Although Thomas Edison was not the first to invent an electric light bulb, he was the first to create a light bulb that was good enough to go on the market. He discovered a lot about the way electricity works to form light.
Source: http://www.edisonmuckers.org/thomas-edison-lightbulb/
Photo Source: “Thomas Edison in the Bulb” by cea + is licensed under CC BY 2.0 -
Development of Windmill to Generate Electricity
Charles F Brush of Cleavleand, Ohio developed the first windmill that could generate electricity. His discovery has led the way to the use of windpower as a form of enery all over the United States.
Source: https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1800-1899
Photo Source: www.brushwind.org -
Hoover Dam Is Built
The Hoover Dam was the world's largest hydroelectric power plant at the time of it's completion in 1935. It became the largest hydroelectric producer in the world, paving the way for similar plants worldwide.
Source:https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1900-1950
Photo Source: www.centralbasin.org -
Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant Opened
The Shippingport nuclear power plant was the first nuclear power plant in the US. It remained operational until 1984 when it became the first nuclear power plant to be decomissioned.
Photo and Info Source: http://ethw.org/Shippingport_Nuclear_Power_Plant -
US Satellite Uses Solar Cells For Power
Dr. Hans Ziegler beilieved that solar cells would be the best way to continuously power a satellite orbiting the earth. The Navy tested this on the Vanguard and discovered the Ziegler was right shortly after they launched the satellite.
Source: https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1951-1999
Photo Source: “Cygnus-ISS-Orbital” by Missy Schmidt is licensed under CC BY 2.0 -
First Geothermal Power Plant in US
This power plant was located at the Geysers and was operated by Pacific Gas and Electric. It's first turbine produced 11 megawatts of environmentally friendly geothermal energy.
Source: https://energy.gov/eere/geothermal/history-geothermal-energy-america
Photo Source: “Hellisheidi geothermal power plant” by ThinkGeoEnergy is licensed under CC BY 2.0 -
US Department of Energy Is Formed
President Carter signed the Department of Energy Organization Act. This unified various government agencies dealing with energy into one Department, so that energy advances could be made quicker and more efficiently.
Photo and Info Source: https://alternativeenergy.procon.org/view.timeline.php?timelineID=000015#1951-1999
