2000 BC - Chinese First to Use Coal as an Energy Source
The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, 2005
200 BC - Chinese Develop Natural Gas as an Energy Source
"History of Energy in the United States: 1635-2000," www.eia.doe.gov (accessed May 20, 2009)
200 BC - Europeans Harness Water Energy to Power Mills
"History of Energy," www.fi.edu, Apr. 25, 2006
1st Century - Chinese First to Refine Petroleum (Oil) for Use as an Energy Source
"China's Petroleum Industry," www.worldenergysource.com (accessed July 21, 2009)
10th Century - Windmills Built in Persia to Grind Grain and Pump Water
Wind Energy in America: A History, 1996
1590s - Dutch Build Windmills for Multiple Uses
1600s - Development of Coal Coke in England Aids Iron Production and Helps to Pave the Way for the Industrial Revolution
The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, 2005
1700s - Coal Begins to Displace Use of Other Energies
1712 - First Steam Engine Developed in England to Pump Water Out of Coal Mines
Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity's Unappeasable Appetite for Energy, 2006
1748 - First Commercial Coal Production in US Begins in Richmond, Virginia
"History of U.S. Coal Use," www.netl.doe.gov (accessed May 14, 2009)
1800 - Process of Electrolysis Discovered
"The History of Hydrogen," www.hydrogenassociation.org (accessed June 4, 2009)
1821 - First Natural Gas Well in US Is Drilled
"History," www.naturalgas.org (accessed June 16, 2009)
1830 - Coal Becomes Primary Locomotive (Train) Fuel in US, Displacing Wood
"History of U.S. Coal Use," www.netl.doe.gov (accessed May 14, 2009)
1830s - First Coal Powered Iron Forges Are Developed in New England
"Anthracite Coal and the Beginnings of the Industrial Revolution in the United States," The Business History Review, Summer 1972
1830s - Ethanol Blend Becomes Popular Lamp Fuel in US, Displacing Whale Oil
"Henry Ford, Charles Kettering and the Fuel of the Future," Automotive History Review, Spring 1998
1838 - First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Developed to Generate Electricity
"Fuel Cell Origins: 1840-1890," americanhistory.si.edu (accessed June 4, 2009)
1850s - Windmill Becomes Popular Water Pumping Tool of Western Homesteaders and Railroad Builders
Wind Energy in America: A History, 1996
1859 - First Commercial Oil Well Drilled by Edwin Drake in Pennsylvania; Kerosene Begins to Displace Other Lamp Fuels
Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity's Unappeasable Appetite for Energy, 2006
1860 - First Solar Power System Developed in France to Produce Steam to Drive Machinery
From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity, 1999
1862 - Abraham Lincoln Enacts an Ethanol Tax to Help Finance the Civil War, Severely Hampering the Ethanol Fuel Industry
"West Wing's Ethanol Problem," www.alternet.org, Feb. 2, 2005
1870 - John D. Rockefeller Forms Standard Oil and Develops Petroleum as a Major Energy Source in the US
"Petroleum History, United States," www.eoearth.org (accessed May 18, 2009)
1876 - First Demonstration of Generating Electricity Directly from Sunlight in a Selenium Solar Cell
"The History of Solar Energy," www.californiasolarcenter.org (accessed May 19, 2009)
Sep. 4, 1882 - First Electric Plant Built by Thomas Edison in New York
"Edison's Miracle of Light: The Film & More - Program Description," www.pbs.org (accessed July 27, 2009)
Sep. 30, 1882 - First Commercial Scale Hydroelectric Plant Goes into Operation in Appleton, Wisconsin
"Vulcan Street Power Plant," www.asme.org (accessed May 21, 2009)
1888 - First Windmill to Generate Electricity Developed in Cleveland, Ohio
"Mr. Brush's Windmill Dynamo," Dec. 20, 1890
1892 - World's First Geothermal District Heating System Built in Boise, Idaho
"A History of Geothermal Energy in the United States," www1.eere.energy.gov (accessed June 3, 2009)
1900 - First Diesel Engine to Run on Vegetable Oil Demonstrated at World's Fair in Paris
"History of Biodiesel Fuel," www.biodiesel.com (accessed June 8, 2009)
1901 - Birth of the Modern Oil Industry: Lucas Gusher and the Discovery of Texas' Vast Spindletop Oil Field
"Spindletop Texas," www.priweb.org (accessed May 27, 2009)
1905 - Albert Einstein Publishes First Theoretical Paper Describing the Photoelectric Effect
From Space to Earth: The Story of Solar Electricity, 1999
"Concerning an Heuristic Point of View Toward the Emission and Transformation of Light," Mar. 17, 1905
June 8, 1906 - The "Free Alcohol Bill" Is Signed to Promote the Use of Alcohol as an Alternative to Gasoline
New York Times, "Free Alcohol Bill Signed," June 9, 1906
"West Wing's Ethanol Problem," www.alternet.org, Feb. 2, 2005
1906-1908 - Studies on Alcohol Fuel (Ethanol) Find Advantages over Petroleum Fuels Such as Gasoline and Kerosene
"Henry Ford, Charles Kettering and the Fuel of the Future," Automotive History Review, Spring 1998
May 15, 1911 - US Supreme Court Orders Dissolution of Standard Oil Trust for Engaging in Monopolistic Practices
New York Times, "Standard Oil Company Must Dissolve in 6 Months; Only Unreasonable Restraint of Trade Forbidden," May 16, 1911
Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey v. United States, May 15, 1911
The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, 2005
1921 - World's First Geothermal Power Plant Is Built in California
"Third Symposium on the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Field, Baja California, Mexico," Mar. 1981
1924 - First Federal Law Established to Control Pollution from the Oil Industry
"Energy and Environment in the United States: The Era of Fossil Fuels," Environmental Review, Fall 1987
1927 - First Commercial Wind Turbines Sold to Generate Electricity on Remote Farms
Wind Energy in America: A History, 1996
1930s - Alcohol Fuel Production Promoted to Combat the Great Depression
"Henry Ford, Charles Kettering and the Fuel of the Future," Automotive History Review, Spring 1998
1935 - Hoover Dam, the World's Largest Hydroelectric Power Plant, Is Built
"What Is the Biggest Dam in the World?," www.usbr.gov (accessed May 27, 2009)
1938 - Natural Gas Act: First Direct Federal Regulation of Natural Gas Industry
"The History of Regulation," www.naturalgas.org (accessed June 16, 2009)
Dec. 1942 - First Controlled Nuclear Chain Reaction
"History of Energy," www.fi.edu, Apr. 25, 2006
1946 - Atomic Energy Act of 1946: US Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Created
"A Short History of Nuclear Regulation, 1946-1999," www.nrc.gov (accessed May 19, 2009)
1950 - Petroleum Becomes Most Used Fuel in the US
"Petroleum Timeline," www.eia.doe.gov (accessed May 28, 2009)
1950s - Natural Gas Becomes a Major Fuel in US with Extensive Construction of Natural Gas Pipelines
"The History of Natural Gas," www.fossil.energy.gov (accessed May 13, 2009)
Dec. 20, 1951 - First Nuclear Power Reactor to Generate Electricity Built in Idaho
"Early Argonne Reactor Lit the Future of the Nuclear Power Industry," www.anl.gov (accessed May 27, 2009)
1953 - First Silicon Solar Cell Developed at Bell Laboratories
"A Brief History of Solar Energy," www.southface.org (accessed May 18, 2009)
Aug. 30, 1954 - US Congress Passes Atomic Energy Act of 1954
"A Short History of Nuclear Regulation, 1946-1999," www.nrc.gov (accessed May 19, 2009)
June 1956 - M. King Hubbard Develops the "Hubberts Peak Theory" for Measuring Oil Supply; Peak of US Oil Production Correctly Predicted
The Party's Over: Oil, War and the Fate of Industrial Societies, 2005
Sep. 2, 1957 - Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act of 1957 Passed to Stimulate the Development of the Private Nuclear Energy Industry
Government Accountability Office (GAO) "Analysis of the Price-Anderson Act," Aug. 18, 1980
Dec. 2, 1957 - First Commercial Nuclear Power Plant Begins Operation in Shippingport, Pennsylvania
"Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant," www.fas.org (accessed May 27, 2009)
1958 - First US Satellite in Orbit Utilizes Solar Cells for Power
"The History of Solar Energy," www.californiasolarcenter.org (accessed May 19, 2009)
1960s - General Electric (GE) Develops Hydrogen Fuel Cells to Generate Electricity for Apollo and Gemini Space Missions
"They Hydrogen Economy: After Oil, Clean Energy from a Fuel-Cell-Driven Global Hydrogen Web," E magazine, Jan.-Feb. 2003
1960 - First Commercial Scale Geothermal Electric Plants in the US Built in California
"Geothermal Slide Show," www.geothermal.marin.org (accessed July 22, 2009)
Sep. 10-14, 1960 - Formation of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in Baghdad, Iraq
"Brief History," www.opec.org (accessed May 19, 2009)
Jan. 28, 1969 - Santa Barbara Oil Spill Draws National Attention
"Energy and Environment in the United States: The Era of Fossil Fuels," Environmental Review, Fall 1987
1970 - Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 Passed to Allow the Leasing of Federal Land for Geothermal Energy Development
"Geothermal Steam Act of 1970, United States," www.eoearth.org (accessed June 3, 2009)
1970s - Solar Cells Begin to Lower in Price and Become Cost Effective for Use on Land
"A History of Photovoltaics," www.usc.edu (accessed May 28, 2009)
1970 - Oil Production Peaks in the Lower 48 States
"History of Energy in the United States: 1635-2000," www.eia.doe.gov (accessed May 20, 2009)
1973 - OPEC Oil Embargo Against the US Causes Gas Shortages and Rationing
"Gas Fever: Happiness Is a Full Tank," Feb. 18, 1974
US Department of State "Second Arab Oil Embargo, 1973-1974," state.gov (accessed May 29, 2009)
Nov. 16, 1973 - Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973 Passed to Increase Domestic Oil Supplies in Wake of Oil Embargo
"Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act of 1973, United States," www.eoearth.org (accessed May 28, 2009)
Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, Nov. 16, 1973
Oct. 11, 1974 - Congress Creates the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Replace the Atomic Energy Commission
"Our History," www.nrc.gov (accessed May 19, 2009)
1975 - Federal Involvement in Wind Energy Development Advances Wind Energy Technology
"History of Wind Power," www.nebraskawindandsolar.com (accessed June 3, 2009)
1975 - Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards Set by the Energy Policy Conservation Act
"CAFE Overview - Frequently Asked Questions," www.nhtsa.dot.gov (accessed July 22, 2009)
Dec. 22, 1975 - Formation of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; President Ford Signs into Law the Energy Policy and Conservation Act
"Strategic Petroleum Reserve: A Remarkable US Asset," www.semp.us (accessed May 29, 2009)
1977 - Formation of the Solar Energy Research Institute
"Overview," www.nrel.gov (accessed June 3, 2009)
Apr. 18, 1977 - President Carter Delivers Famous Energy Speech Arguing for Conservation and Alternative Fuels
Jimmy Carter "The President's Proposed Energy Policy," Apr. 18, 1977
Aug. 3, 1977 - Federal Surface Mining Control Act Signed to Lessen Environmental Impacts of Surface Coal Mining
"Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977, United States," www.eoearth.org, Nov. 15, 2007
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, Aug. 3, 1977
Aug. 4, 1977 - Department of Energy Organization Act Is Signed, Creating the US Department of Energy
"Fossil Energy: Our History," www.fossil.energy.gov (accessed May 7, 2009)
1978 - World's First Solar Powered Village; Tohono O'odham Reservation, Arizona
"Exploration," www.nasa.gov (accessed July 21, 2009)
[Editors Note: Soldier’s Grove, Wisconsin also considers itself America’s first solar village. By 1982, 50% of the community’s heating was solar power generated.]
Nov. 4, 1978 - Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978
"Solar Photovoltaic Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1978 Statement on Signing H.R. 12874 into Law," www.presidency.ucsb.edu, Nov. 4, 1978
Mar. 28, 1979 - Three Mile Island Nuclear Accident in Pennsylvania Creates Widespread Public Opposition to Nuclear Power
Children of the Sun: A History of Humanity's Unappeasable Appetite for Energy, 2006
Dec. 1980 - World's First Wind Farm Built in New Hampshire
"Historic Wind Development in New England: The Age of PURPA Spawns the Wind Farm" www1.eere.energy.gov (accessed May 29, 2009)
1981 - Solar One: First Large Scale Solar-Thermal Power Plant Begins Operation in Daggett, California
"A Short History of Solar Energy and Solar Energy in California," www.gosolarcalifornia.org (accessed June 3, 2009)
1981 - Construction Begins on the World's Largest Wind Farm in California's Altamont Pass; Bird Deaths from Wind Turbines Number in the Thousands
Melissa Lowitz, MA "Altamont Pass, California," www.eoearth.org, Mar. 25, 2008
"Avian Mortality at Altamont Pass," www.goldengateaudubon.org (accessed June 3, 2009)
1982 - First Complete Decontamination and Decommissioning of a Nuclear Reactor in the US
"Shippingport Nuclear Power Plant," www.fas.org (accessed May 27, 2009)
Apr. 26, 1986 - Largest Nuclear Accident Ever Takes Place at Chernobyl in the Former Soviet Union
"Backgrounder on Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant Accident," www.nrc.gov, Apr. 30, 2009
Mar. 24, 1989 - Exxon Valdez Disaster in Alaska Becomes the Largest Oil Spill in US Waters
"Legacy of an Oil Spill: 20 Years after Exxon Valdez," www.evostc.state.ak.us, Mar. 24, 2009
Jan. 23, 1990 - Congress Passes Act to Stimulate Development of Hydrogen Power
Spark M. Matsunaga Hydrogen Research, Development, and Demonstration Program Act of 1990, Jan. 23, 1990
1994 - US Begins Importing More Petroleum Than It Produces
"History of Energy in the United States: 1635-2000," www.eia.doe.gov (accessed May 20, 2009)
Apr. 1996 - Solar Two Plant Demonstrates Low Cost Method of Storing Solar Energy
"Solar Two Demonstrates Clean Power for the Future," www.energylan.sandia.gov (accessed June 3, 2009)
Oct. 9, 1996 - Hydrogen Future Act of 1996 Is Passed to Further Expand Hydrogen Power Development
"George E. Brown, Jr. Hydrogen Future Act," akaka.senate.gov, Oct. 12, 2000
1997 - EV1 Electric Car Is Made Available to the Public For Lease; Lease Program and EV1 Later Dismantled by GM
"Who Killed the Electric Car?," www.pbs.org (accessed July 27, 2009)
Feb. 2003 - President Bush Unveils the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative to Promote Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development
United States Department of Energy (DOE) "Hydrogen Fuel Initiative," www.hydrogen.energy.gov (accessed June 4, 2009)
"Hydrogen Fuel Initiative Can Make 'Fundamental Difference,'" www.georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov, Feb. 6, 2003
Feb. 27, 2003 - Plans Announced to Build FutureGen, the Worlds First Zero Emissions Coal Power Plant
"Clean Coal: DOE's Decision to Restructure FutureGen Should Be Based on a Comprehensive Analysis of Costs, Benefits, and Risks," www.gao.gov, Feb. 2009
[Editor’s Note: On Jan. 30, 2008, US Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman announced a “restructured” approach to the FutureGen project that focused on carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology and excluded hydrogen production as part of the project.]
United States Department of Energy (DOE), “DOE Announces Restructured FutureGen Approach to Demonstrate CCS Technology at Multiple Clean Coal Plants,” www.energy.gov, Jan. 30, 2008
Nov. 9, 2005 - US House Prevents Drilling for Oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
"Small Group of House Republicans Derails ANWR Drilling," www.nationalcenter.org, Nov. 10, 2005
Nov. 17, 2007 - IPCC Report Concludes Climate Change Is Happening and Is Mostly Human Caused
Michel Jarrud and Achim Steiner, Forward to "Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report. Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change," Nov. 17, 2007
Feb. 2008 - First Commercial Cellulosic Ethanol Plant Goes Into Production in Wyoming
"Cellulosic Ethanol a Reality: First American Plant in Production," Feb. 7, 2008
Oct. 7, 2008 - National Biofuel Action Plan Unveiled
"USDA & DOE Release National Biofuels Action Plan," www.energy.gov, Oct. 7, 2008
National Biofuels Action Plan, Oct. 2008
Dec. 22, 2008 - Worst Coal Ash Spill in US History in Kingston, Tennessee
"Coal Ash Spill, Tennessee," www.earthobservatory.nasa.gov (accessed July 22, 2009)
Feb. 17, 2009 - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Contains Billions of Dollars for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Developments
"Remarks by the President and Vice President at Signing of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," www.whitehouse.gov, Feb. 17, 2009
"American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009," Feb. 17, 2009
Apr. 22, 2009 - First Framework for Wind Energy Development on the US Outer Continental Shelf Announced
"President Obama, Secretary Salazar Announce Framework for Renewable Energy Development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf," www.mms.gov, Apr. 22, 2009
May 5, 2009 - President Obama Issues Presidential Directive to USDA to Expand Access to Biofuels; $786.5 Million in Biofuels Funding Announced
"Secretary Chu Announces Nearly $800 Million from Recovery Act to Accelerate Biofuels Research and Commercialization," www.energy.gov, May 5, 2009
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) "President Obama Issues Presidential Directive to USDA to Expand Access to Biofuels," www.usda.gov, May 5, 2009
May 27, 2009 - US Announces $467 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Solar Energy and Geothermal Energy Development
"President Obama Announces over $467 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Geothermal and Solar Energy Projects," www.energy.gov, May 27, 2009
Oct. 27, 2009 - US Invests $3.4 Billion to Modernize Energy Grid
"President Obama Announces $3.4 Billion Investment to Spur Transition to Smart Energy Grid," www.energy.gov, Oct. 27, 2009
Apr. 20, 2010 - BP Oil Rig Explodes & Causes Largest Oil Spill in US History
"Estimates Suggest Spill Is Biggest in US History," May, 27, 2010
Mar. 11, 2011 - Earthquake off Coast of Japan Damages Six Powerplants at Fukushima Dai-ichi; Nuclear Crisis Eventually Reaches Level 7, the Highest Level Possible
"Timeline: A Nuclear Crisis Unfolds in Japan," www.npr.org (accessed May 5, 2011)
Sep. 1, 2011 - Solar Power Company Solyndra Declares Bankruptcy after Receiving $528 Million in Federal Loan Guarantees
"Key Facts: Solyndra Solar," www.energy.gov (accessed Mar. 13, 2012)
Feb. 9, 2012 - US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Approves New Nuclear Power Plants for First Time Since 1978; Two New Reactors to Be Built in Georgia
"NRC Concludes Hearing on Vogtle New Reactors, First-Ever Combined Licenses to be Issued," www.nrc.gov, Feb. 9, 2012
Mar. 27, 2012 - EPA Announces First Clean Air Act Standard for Carbon Pollution from New Power Plants
"Obama Administration Sets Limits On Power Plant Emissions," www.latimes.com, Mar. 27, 2012
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) "EPA FACT SHEET: Proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants," www.epa.gov, Mar. 27, 2012
Apr. 17, 2012 - EPA Issues First Ever Clean Air Rules for Natural Gas Produced by Fracking
"Overview of Final Amendments to Air Regulations for the Oil and Natural Gas Industry," www.epa.gov, Apr. 17, 2012
June 25, 2013 - President Obama Releases His Climate Action Plan Including Increased Use of Renewable Energy and Carbon Pollution Restrictions for Power Plants
"The President’s Climate Action Plan: Executive Office of the President," www.whitehouse.gov, June 25, 2013
"Presidential Memorandum - Power Sector Carbon Pollution Standards," www.whitehouse.gov, June 25, 2013
Sep. 20, 2013 - EPA Issues New Proposed Rule to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Power Plants
"EPA Wants to Limit Greenhouse Gases from New Coal Power Plants," npr.org, Sep. 20, 2013
"Standards of Performance for Greenhouse Gas Emissions from New Stationary Sources: Electric Utility Generating Units," www.epa.gov, Sep. 20, 2013
[Editor’s note : The original Mar. 27, 2012 proposed rule to limit greenhouse gases from power plants was withdrawn by the EPA and replaced with this current Sep. 20, 2013 proposal. There will be a 60 day comment period on this proposal. After that, the EPA has one year to finalize the rule.]
Feb. 13, 2014 - Ivanpah, the World's Largest Concentrated Solar Power Generation Plant, Goes Online
"Celebrating the Completion of the World's Largest Concentrating Solar Power Plant," energy.gov, Feb. 13, 2014
[Editor’s Note : In April 2014, the US Fish and Wildlife Service released a report on bird deaths at the new Ivanpah concentrated solar power plant, and two other plants. They found that Ivanpah “may act as a ‘mega-trap,’ attracting insects, which in turn attract insect-eating birds, which are incapacitated by solar flux injury.” While researching the report, staff observed birds entering the area of concentrated light (the solar flux) and igniting. During the study period, July 2012 to Dec. 2013, the remains of 141 birds were studied. At that time, Ivanpah was not yet fully operational, and was running at 33% capacity.]
May 9, 2014 - President Obama Announces Solar Power Commitments and Executive Actions
“With Corporate Help, Obama Announces Actions on Renewable Energy,” reuters.com, May 9, 2014
"FACT SHEET: President Obama Announces Commitments and Executive Actions to Advance Solar Deployment and Energy Efficiency," whitehouse.gov, May 9, 2014
June 2, 2014 - EPA Proposes First Ever Rules to Reduce Carbon Emissions from Existing Power Plants
“EPA Proposes First Guidelines to Cut Carbon Pollution from Existing Power Plants,” epa.gov, June 2, 2014
Washington Post, "Everything You Need to Know about the EPA's Proposed Rule on Coal Plants," washingtonpost.com, June 1, 2014
[Editor’s Note : On Sep. 20, 2013, the EPA proposed separate carbon pollution standards for all future power plants.]
Sep. 22, 2014 - Rockefellers and over 800 Global Investors Announce Fossil Fuel Divestment
The Guardian,"Heirs to Rockefeller Oil Fortune Divest from Fossil Fuels over Climate Change,” guardian.com, Sep. 22, 2014
"Fossil Fuel Divestment: A $5 Trillion Challenge," about.bnef.com, Aug. 26, 2014
Aug. 3, 2015 - President Obama Announces Clean Power Plan, Imposing the First Nationwide Limits on Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Power Plants
Colleen McCain Nelson and Amy Harder, "EPA Emissions Rule to Mandate Limits Beyond Proposed Targets," wsj.com, Aug. 2, 2015
Mar. 28, 2017 - President Trump Signs Executive Order to Begin Reversal of President Obama' Clean Power Plan
Andrew M. Harris and Jennifer A Dlouhy, "Trump Administration Seeks Halt to Clean Power Plan Review," bloomberg.com, Mar. 28, 20
[Editor’s note : On Oct. 10, 2017, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to begin the process of formally repealing the Clean Power Plan.]
July 31, 2017 - Two Nuclear Power Reactors in South Carolina Abandoned Before Construction Completed
Brad Plumer, "US Nuclear Comeback Stalls as Two Reactors Are Abandoned," nytimes.com, July 31, 2017
Dec. 22, 2017 - Tax Bill Opens Arctic National Wildlife Refuge for Oil Drilling
“Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Battle Ends, But Drilling Not a Given,” npr.org, Dec. 21, 2017
[Editor’s Note : President Trump signed the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act into law on Dec. 22, 2017.]
May 9, 2018 - Solar Power to Be Required on All New California Homes by 2020
Ivan Penn, "California Will Require Solar Power for New Homes," nytimes.com, May 9, 2018
Mar. 22, 2019 - New Mexico Commits to 100% Renewable Energy for Electricity by 2050
"New Mexico Governor Approves 100% Renewable Legislation," cleantechnica.com, Mar. 24, 2019
Sep. 20, 2019 - Three Mile Island to Close, Site of Worst Commercial Nuclear Accident in US
Brett Sholtis, "Three Mile Island Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down," npr.org, Sep. 20, 2019
Mar. 31, 2020 - EPA Lowers Fuel Economy Standards
Anna M. Phillips, "Trump Weakens Fuel Economy Standards, Rolling back Key U.S. Effort against Climate Change," latimes.com, Mar. 31, 2020
Apr. 15, 2020 - Oil and Electricity Demands Drop during COVID-19 Pandemic
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), "Global oil and gas markets are facing an unprecedented situation: demand is collapsing because of the impact of the coronavirus while supply, already overabundant, is significantly increasing." The IEA expects Apr. 2020 oil demand to be at lows not seen since 1995.
Meanwhile, even though reliable electricity has become all the more important as people are confined at home, whether working, online shopping, or bingeing TV shows, overall electricity use has dropped around 15% as factories and other businesses close for stay-at-home orders.
IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, stated, "Governments can use the current situation to step up their climate ambitions and launch sustainable stimulus packages focused on clean energy technologies. The coronavirus crisis is already doing significant damage around the world. Rather than compounding the tragedy by allowing it to hinder clean energy transitions, we need to seize the opportunity to help accelerate them."
Fatih Birol, "The Coronavirus Crisis Reminds Us That Electricity Is More Indispensable Than Ever," iea.org, Mar. 22, 2020
International Energy Agency, "COVID-19," iea.org (accessed Apr. 15, 2020)
International Energy Agency, "Oil Market Report - April 2020," iea.org, Apr. 2020
Apr. 2020 - Big Banks Refuse Funds for Some Fossil Fuel Projects
Citi announced a new policy in which the bank will not fund new or expanded thermal coal mines, new or expanded coal-fired plants, "oil and gas exploration, development, and production in the Arctic Circle," or projects that will have a negative impact on UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Morgan Stanley announced a similar new policy, while Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo already had similar policies in place.
In a letter to banks in Feb. 2020, Democratic senators wrote, "The scale of your banks’ assets individually, let alone together, give you the ability to drive change in protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and in shifting towards a U.S. financial sector that effectively analyzes and plans for climate risks."
President Trump stated, "I don't like that. I like the idea of looking into that... They're [the banks] are afraid of the radical left. You shouldn't be afraid of the radical left. You cannot be discriminating against these great energy companies."
Citi, "Environmental and Social Policy Framework," citigroup.com, Apr. 2020
Rachel Frazin, "Democratic Senators Ask Banks to Prohibit Funding Arctic Drilling," thehill.com, Feb. 3, 2020
Rachel Frazin, "Trump Criticizes Banks Withholding Funds from Certain Fossil Fuel Projects," thehill.com, Apr. 24, 2020
Morgan Stanley, "Environmental and Social Policy Statement," morganstanley.com, Apr. 2020
Sep. 23, 2020 - California to Ban New Gas-Powered Cars by 2035
Brad Plumer and Jill Cowan, "California Plans to Ban Sales of New Gas-Powered Cars in 15 Years," nytimes.com, Sep. 23, 2020
Dec. 9, 2020 - New York Says Employee Pension Fund Will Divest from Oil and Gas Companies if Not Aligned with Paris Agreement
Office of the New York State Comptroller, "New York State Pension Fund Sets 2040 Net Zero Carbon Emissions Target," osc.state.ny.us, Dec. 9, 2020
Feb. 8, 2021 - Global Oil Prices Recovered from Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic
Julia Horowitz, "Global Oil Prices Have Fully Recovered from the Pandemic," cnn.com, Feb. 8, 2021
Mar. 29, 2021 - Biden Administration Announces Offshore Wind Initiative
Liz Stark, "White House announces Offshore Wind Energy Initiative Creating Jobs and Addressing Climate Crisis," cnn.com, Mar. 29, 2021
Apr. 2021 - Indian Plant Nuclear Plant to Close
Patrick McGeehan, "Indian Point Is Shutting Down. That Means More Fossil Fuel.," nytimes.com, Apr. 12, 2021
Apr. 22, 2021 - Biden Administration Pledges to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 50% to 52% by 2030
Kate Sullivan and Kevin Liptak, "Biden Announces US Will Aim to Cut Carbon Emissions by as Much as 52% by 2030 at Virtual Climate Summit," cnn.com, Apr. 22, 2021
May 11, 2021 - US Approves First Major American Offshore Wind Project
Miriam Wasser, "Biden Administration Approves 1st Major Offshore Wind Energy Project," npr.org, May 11, 2021
May 18, 2021 - International Energy Agency Calls for No New Fossil Fuel Projects
International Energy Agency, "Pathway to Critical and Formidable Goal of Net-Zero Emissions by 2050 Is Narrow but Brings Huge Benefits, According to IEA Special Report," iea.org, May, 18, 2021
Sep. 21, 2021 - China Announces End to Building Coal-Burning Power Plants Abroad
Somini Sengupta and Rick Gladstone, "China Pledges to Stop Building Coal-Burning Power Plants Abroad," nytimes.com, Sep. 21, 2021
Nov. 9, 2021 - Major Automakers and Countries Pledge to Phase Out Gas-Powered Cars
Brad Plumer and Hiroko Tabuchi, "6 Automakers and 30 Countries Say They’ll Phase out Gasoline Car Sales," nytimes.com, Nov. 10, 2021
Nov. 9, 2021 - Rolls Royce Announces Plans to Build Nuclear Power Plants in Britain
Stanley Reed, "Rolls-Royce Plans to Build Small Nuclear Power Plants in Britain," nytimes.com, Nov. 9, 2021
Dec. 15, 2021 - New York City to Ban New Natural Gas Connections
Molly Taft, "New York City Passes Landmark Bill to Ban New Gas Hookups," gizmodo.com, Dec. 15, 2021
Dec. 15, 2021 - Biden Admin Orders Government Fleets and Buildings to Use Alternative Energies by 2050
Lisa Friedman, "Biden Orders Federal Vehicles and Buildings to Use Renewable Energy by 2050," nytimes.com, Dec. 13, 2021
Jan. 27, 2022 - Over 80 Million Acres of Oil and Gas Leases Canceled in Gulf of Mexico
Lisa Friedman, "Court Revokes Oil and Gas Leases, Citing Climate Change," nytimes.com, Jan. 27, 2022
Nathan Rott, "A Federal Judge Canceled Major Oil and Gas Leases over Climate Change," npr.org, Jan. 28, 2022
Apr. 7, 2022 - Stanford University Engineers Create Solar Panels That Generate Electricity at Night
Rina Torchinsky, "Solar Panels That Can Generate Electricity at Night Have Been Developed at Stanford," npr.org, Apr. 7, 2022
Apr. 2022 - American Lung Association Says Switch to Zero-Emission Transportation and Non-Combustion Electricity Could Save 110,000 Lives
American Lung Association, "Zeroing in on Healthy Air: A National Assessment of Health and Climate Benefits of Zero-Emission Transportation and Electricity," lung.org, Apr. 2022
May 19, 2022 - Biden Administration to Fund $3.5 Billion in Carbon Dioxide Removal via Direct Air Capture
Lauren Leffer, "Biden Admin Announces $3.5 Billion in Carbon Dioxide Removal Funding," gizmodo.com, May 20, 2022
Aug. 25, 2022 - California Bans Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars by 2035
Nathan Rott, "California Will Ban Sales of New Gasoline-Powered Cars by 2035," npr.org, Aug. 25, 2022
Jessie Yeung and Shawn Deng, "Chinese Island Plans to Ban Sales of Fossil Fuel-Powered Vehicles by 2030," cnn.com, Aug. 25, 2022
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