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Ben Franklin ties a key to a kite string during a thunderstorm & proved that static electricity & lightning are the same thing.
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The Austin Dam (located near Austin, TX), was completed. It was the first dam specifically designed for generating hydro power.
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The Manhattan Project is formed.
The Manhattan project was formed in the U.S. to secretly build an atomic bomb, using nuclear technologies, for use in World War II.
Picture: http://www-tc.pbs.org/prod-media/antiques-roadshow/roadie/art201408A06-emblem.jpg -
The Grand Coulee, the nation's largest hydroelectric dam, began operation.
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Atoms for Peace Program is created.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower creates this program, which proposed an international agency to develop peaceful nuclear technologies.
Picture: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/51/Atoms_for_Peace_stamp.jpg -
The Solar energy research institute was formed.
The solar energy research institute was a national laboratory that provides research & developmental support for solar technologies.
Picture: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a1/National_Renewable_Energy_Laboratory.jpg -
California Energy became the world's largest geothermal company through its acquisition of Magma Power.
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NASA's solar powered aircraft, Helios, set a new world altitude record for a non-rocket powered craft.
Helios' altitude was 96,863 ft.
Picture: https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/images/370876main_ED01-0209-5_full.jpg -
U.S. geothermal industry became a $1.5 billion/year business that involved electricity generation & thermal energy in direct use (ex: agriculture & indoor heating)
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Wind Power provided 5% of renewable energy used in U.S..
Wind power also produced enough electricity to power approximately 2.5 million homes!
Picture: http://populationeducation.org/sites/default/files/wind-turbines-wind-energy.jpg
