History of Energy

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• A New Century & Beyond
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Let there be light…

Not many Americans realize that in 1859, Col. Edwin Drake struck oil 69 feet below the surface of the ground in a little town in northern Pennsylvania. This would mark the beginning of the oil and natural gas industry in the United States.

During the majority of the 19th century, natural gas was used almost exclusively as a source of light. Meaning natural gas was used primarily to light city streets, restaurants, saloons, church socials, and civic duties all benefit from this new medium. This meant that citizens could venture out after dark to enjoy a relaxing evening of entertainment and edification.

From light to heat…

After the 1890's electricity took over as the preferred source of light energy, and new uses of natural gas were needed. Robert Bunsen's 1885 invention, the Bunsen Burner, which mixed air with natural gas, and the evolution of thermostatic controls, allowed customers to take advantage of natural gas's heating properties. Without a means to move natural gas to customers, gas for heating was relegated to small geographic areas immediately surrounding an area of natural gas production. For heating and cooking purposes, coal was still the fuel of choice.

Post War Boom…

It wasn't until after World War II that advances in metals, welding techniques, and pipe rolling overcame the barriers of transporting gas from the wellhead to the customer. The post-war construction boom lasted into the 1960's, and was responsible for the construction of thousands of miles of pipeline. Once a viable transportation and distribution system was in place, industry across America began to use gas in manufacturing and processing plants, and electric utilities found that it made an efficient fuel for heating their boilers. Natural gas has also been used to heat homes, and for a variety of home appliances from water heaters to oven ranges, and even clothes dryers, ever since it was available to residential customers.