1908 First solar collector (William J. Bailley of the Carnegie Steel Company invents a solar collector with copper coils and an insulated box.) 1910s Vacuum light bulbs (Irving Langmuir of General Electric experiments with gas-filled lamps, using nitrogen to reduce evaporation of the tungsten filament, thus raising the temperature of the filament and producing more light. To reduce conduction of heat by the gas, he makes the filament smaller by coiling the tungsten. 1913 Southern California Edison brings electricity to Los Angeles (Southern California Edison puts into service a 150,000-volt line to bring electricity to Los Angeles. Hydroelectric Power is generated along the 233-mile-long aqueduct that brings water from Owens Valley in the eastern Sierra.)
1917 First long-distance high-voltage transmission line (The first long-distance high-voltage transmission line is established by American Gas & Electric (AG&E), an investor-owned utility. The line originates from the first major steam plant to be built at the mouth of a coal mine, virtually eliminating fuel transportation costs.) 1917 First long-distance high-voltage transmission line (The first long-distance high-voltage transmission line is established by American Gas & Electric (AG&E), an investor-owned utility. The line originates from the first major steam plant to be built at the mouth of a coal mine, virtually eliminating fuel transportation costs.)1920s High-pressure steam power plants (Boston Edison's Edgar Station becomes a model for high-pressure steam power plants worldwide by producing electricity at the rate of 1 kilowatt-hour per pound of coal at a time when generators commonly use 5 to 10 pounds of coal to produce 1 kilowatt-hour. The key was operating a boiler and turbine unit at 1,200 pounds of steam pressure, a unique design developed under the supervision of Irving Moultrop.)1920s Windmills used to drive generators (Windmills with modified airplane propellers marketed by Parris-Dunn and Jacobs Wind are used to drive 1- to 3- kilowatt DC generators on farms in the U.S. Plains states. At first these provide power for electric lights and power to charge batteries for crystal radio sets, bug later they supply electricity for motor-driven washing machines, refrigerators, freezers and power tools.)1920s First Plant to Reheat Steam (In Philo, Ohio, AG&E introduces the first plant to reheat steam, thereby increasing the amount of electricity generated from a given amount of raw material. Soon new, more heat-resistant steel alloys are enabling turbines to generate even more power.)
1931 Introduction of bulk-power, utility-scale wind energy conversion systems (The 100-kilowatt Balaclava wind generator on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Russia marks the introduction of bulk-power, utility-scale wind energy conversion systems. This machine operates for about 2 years, generating 200,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. A few years later, other countries, including Great Britain, the United States, Denmark, Germany, and France, begin experimental large-scale wind plants.) 1931 Introduction of bulk-power, utility-scale wind energy conversion systems (The 100-kilowatt Balaclava wind generator on the shores of the Caspian Sea in Russia marks the introduction of bulk-power, utility-scale wind energy conversion systems. This machine operates for about 2 years, generating 200,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity. A few years later, other countries, including Great Britain, the United States, Denmark, Germany, and France, begin experimental large-scale wind plants.)1933 Tennessee Valley Authority (Congress passes legislation establishing the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Today the TVA manages numerous dams, 11 steam turbine power plants, and two nuclear power plants. Altogether these produce 125 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year.) 1935 First generator at Hoover Dam begins operation (The first generator at Hoover Dam along the Nevada-Arizona border begins commercial operation. More generators are added through the years, the 17th and last one in 1961.)1935 Rural Electrification Administration bring electricity to many farmers (President Roosevelt issues an executive order to create the Rural Electrification Administration (REA), which forms cooperatives that bring electricity to millions of rural Americans. Within 6 years the REA has aided the formation of 800 rural electric cooperatives with 350,000 miles of power lines.)1942 Grand Coulee Dam completed (Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in Washington State is completed. With 24 turbines, the dam eventually brings electricity to 11 western states and irrigation to more than 500,000 acres of farmland in the Columbia Basin.)
1953 Seven-state power grid (The American Electric Power Company (AEP) commissions a 345,000-volt system that interconnects the grids of seven states. The system reduces the cost of transmission by sending power where and when it is needed rather than allowing all plants to work at less than full capacity.) 1953 Seven-state power grid (The American Electric Power Company (AEP) commissions a 345,000-volt system that interconnects the grids of seven states. The system reduces the cost of transmission by sending power where and when it is needed rather than allowing all plants to work at less than full capacity.)1955 Nuclear power plant power entire town (On July 17, Arco, Idaho, becomes the first town to have all its electrical needs generated by a nuclear power plant. Arco is 20 miles from the Atomic Energy Commission’s National Reactor Testing Station, where Argonne National Laboratory operates BORAX (Boiling Reactor Experiment) III, an experimental nuclear reactor.)
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