History of Energy-From wood to coal to fossil fuels

History of Energy

From wood to coal to fossil fuels - our use of energy has changed a lot over the years. Today, most modern households need energy not only for heat and lights, but also for multiple cars, televisions, computers, and other modern luxuries.

Wood (Biomass)
	Pre-1885	Wood was the primary source for cooking, warmth, light, trains and steamboats. Cutting wood was time consuming, hard work.
Electricity
	1700's	After eons of superstitious imaginations about electricity, Ben Franklin figured out that static electricity and lightening were the same.  http://www.ushistory.org/franklin/info/kite.htm His correct understanding of the nature of electricity paved the way for the future.
	1830-1839	Michael Faraday built an induction dynamo based on principles of electromagnetism, induction, generation and transmission. Faraday’s electro-magnetic induction ring
	1860’s	Mathematical theory of electromagnetic fields was published. James Clerk Maxwell created a new era of physics when he unified magnetism, electricity and light. One of the most significant events, possibly the very most significant event, of the 19th century was Maxwell's discovery of the four laws of electrodynamics ("Maxwell's Equations"). This led to electric power, radios, and television.
Coal
	1763-1774	Pumping water from coal mines was a most difficult and expensive problem.  The steam engine developed by James Watt during these years provided the solution.  Watt's steam engine remained basically unchanged for the next century and its uses expanded to change the whole nature of industry and transportation.
	1885-1950	Coal was the most important fuel. One half ton of coal produced as much energy as 2 tons of wood and at half the cost. But it was hard to stay clean in houses heated with coal.
	Late 1860’s	The steel industry gave coal a big boost.
	1982	Coal accounted for more than half of the supply of electricity but little was used in homes. In terms of national electricity generation, hydropower, natural gas, and nuclear energy contributed between 10 and 15 percent each.
Oil
	By 1870	Oil had become the country’s second biggest export after the industry was started by Edwin Drake.
	1890	Mass production of automobiles began, creating demand for gasoline. Prior to this, kerosene used for lighting had been the main oil product.
	1951-present	Oil has given us most of our energy. Automobiles increased the demand for oil.
	1960	The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was formed by Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The group has since grown to include 11 member countries.
	1970	U.S. production of petroleum (crude oil and natural gas plant liquids) reached its highest level at 11.7 million barrels per day. Production in the Lower-48 States has been generally declining since 1970. Some of this decline has been offset by increased Alaskan production after 1978.
	1993 forward	For the first time the U.S. imported more oil and refined products from other countries than it produced. More and more imports have been needed because of growing petroleum demand and declining U.S. production
Nuclear
	1906	Special theory of relativity written. Albert Einstein created a new era of physics when he unified mass, energy, magnetism, electricity, and light. One of the most significant events, if not the very most significant event, of the 20th century was Einstein's writing the formula of E=mc2: energy = mass times the square of the speed of light. This led to nuclear medicine - and a much longer life span, astrophysics, and commercial nuclear electric power
	1942	Scientists produced nuclear energy in a sustained nuclear reaction.
	1957	The Former Sodium Reactor Experiment Containment Building First power generated from a civilian nuclear plant at Santa Susana, California. First full-scale nuclear power plant (Shippingport, Pennsylvania) began service. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was formed with 18 member countries to promote peaceful uses of nuclear energy and to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons.
	1959	First U.S. plant (Dresden-1 Nuclear Power Station in Illinois) built entirely without government funding, achieved a self-sustaining nuclear reaction
	1979	An accident occurs at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant
	1986	A Soviet nuclear accident occurs at Chernobyl Reactor #4
	1995	Nuclear power contributed about 20 percent of the nation's electricity.

Energy Glossary

Amp Short for "ampere" - this measures the amount of electricity moving through a wire. Most household appliances use 15 or 20 amps of power. Amps are what give electricity its "shock." Volt Volts or voltage, is the pressure that pushes the electricity through the wires. This is how electricity gets from the power plant to your house: high-voltage transmission lines carry the electricity under greater pressure to carry it long distances, while lower-voltage power lines serve individual homes and businesses. Watt Watts, or wattage, is how electric use is measured - the amount of power a device consumes. Wattage is equal to the amperage multiplied by the voltage (amps X volts = watts). Kilowatt A kilowatt (kW) is equal to 1,000 watts. This is how electric companies measure how much electricity your family uses at home. Most homes use about 10,000 kilowatts each year. Kilowatt-hour A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is the unit of energy equal to that expended by one kilowatt in one hour. Megawatt A megawatt (MW) is one million watts. A large-scale power plant produces more than 500 MW a year. Btu This is an abbreviation for British thermal unit - the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree. The heat output of a natural gas flame is measured in Btus. Therms A therm is equal to 100,000 Btus - this is how utility companies measure how much natural gas your family uses.