SOLAR STORM SHUT DOWN!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY March 13, 2025 SOLAR STORM SHUT DOWN! 11:24On March 13, 1989, a powerful solar storm caused a complete shutdown of the Hydro-Québec power grid, leaving millions without electricity. The storm’s intense geomagnetic activity triggered a chain reaction, knocking out seven static compensators and leading to widespread outages across Quebec. After nine […]
FIRST MOBILE POWER PLANT!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 28, 2025 FIRST MOBILE POWER PLANT! 11:22On February 28, 1963, the U.S. Army’s ML-1 mobile nuclear power plant reached full power. Developed in collaboration with Idaho National Laboratory, ML-1 was a pioneering prototype designed for relocation and off-grid energy generation. While it made history on September 21, 1962, as the […]
3 MILE ISLAND DISASTER
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY March 28, 2025 3 MILE ISLAND DISASTER The Three Mile Island disaster occurred on March 28, 1979, at the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Pennsylvania. A combination of mechanical failure and human error led to a partial meltdown of Reactor 2, making it the most serious accident in U.S. […]
NSTX-U, A NEW REACTOR!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 26, 2025 NSTX-U, A NEW REACTOR! On February 26, 1999, the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab dedicated the NSTX (National Spherical Torus Experiment), a new experimental fusion reactor. Designed to explore cost-effective fusion energy—a process that generates power by fusing atoms—the project took nearly five years to develop and cost $24 […]
OG&E INCORPORATED!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 27, 2025 OG&E INCORPORATED! Today marks 123 years since the founding of OG&E. On February 27, 1902, the Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company was incorporated, with Edward H. Cooke filing the paperwork and George H. Wheeler serving as its first president. What began as a small operation serving only Oklahoma […]
FIRST ELECTRIC MOTOR PATENT!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 25, 2025 FIRST ELECTRIC MOTOR PATENT! The first patent for an electric motor was issued on February 25, 1837, to Thomas Davenport, a Vermont blacksmith. The patent described “applying magnetic and electromagnetic power as a moving principle for machinery,” laying the foundation for what we now recognize as the DC […]
CULLINAN REFINERY OPERATIONAL!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 24, 2025 CULLINAN REFINERY OPERATIONAL! The first shipment of oil from the Cullinan Refinery took place on February 24, 1899. The refinery was established by Joseph Cullinan, a Pennsylvania oilman, to process crude from the Corsicana field. Initial production at the end of 1896 was modest, reaching only 1,450 barrels, […]
STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN MOTION!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 21, 2025 STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN MOTION! On February 21, 1804, a groundbreaking demonstration of the self-propelled steam locomotive set the stage for a transportation revolution. This achievement not only influenced the Industrial Revolution but also played a crucial role in the future of oil transportation. Richard Trevithick, a British mining […]
HUNTER NO. 1
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY April 16, 2025 HUNTER NO. 1 The Hunter No. 1 well, drilled in Ouachita County, Arkansas, became the state’s first commercially successful oil well on April 16, 1921. Located near El Dorado, the well was drilled by Col. Samuel S. Hunter and reached a depth of 2,233 feet before striking oil […]
CAT CREEK STRIKES OIL!
TODAY IN ENERGY HISTORY February 19, 2025 CAT CREEK STRIKES OIL! 10:59On February 19, 1920, oil was discovered in Cat Creek, Montana, by Frank Frantz, a former governor of Oklahoma Territory. The discovery was made near the Mosby Dome, and Frantz’s announcement of the find quickly drew attention to the area, marking the beginning of […]