NEED Celebrates
40 Years of Energy Education

Happy Birthday NEED!
The National Energy Education Development (NEED) Project begins on March 21, 1980 as a one-day celebration as a Joint Congressional Resolution recognizes National Energy Education Day. In the same year, President Jimmy Carter issues a Presidential Proclamation stressing the need for comprehensive energy education in our schools, a reduction in our dependence of fossil fuels, and increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy technologies. (NEED)
Nuclear Overtakes Oil
For the first time in the U.S., nuclear energy generates more electricity than oil. (DOE)
Price of Crude Oil Set by Supply and Demand
The U.S. government ends price controls on crude oil and petroleum products. Supply and demand now set domestic crude prices. (DOE)
First Large Wind Projects
The first large wind projects are built in Altamont Pass and Tehachapi, California by multiple wind energy developers. At this time, little is known about siting practices, and the interaction between wind and wildlife is poorly understood. (AWEA)
First Megawatt-Scale PV Power Station
The first photovoltaic megawatt-scale power station goes on-line in Hesperia, California. It is a 1-megawatt capacity system. (EERE)
Sun Shines on Concentrating Solar Power Technology
The U.S. Department of Energy, along with an industry consortium, begins operating Solar One, a 10-megawatt central-receiver demonstration project in California. The project establishes the feasibility of power-tower systems, a solar-thermal electric or concentrating solar power technology. The demonstration project runs until 1988. (EERE)
Nuclear Overtakes Hydropower
Nuclear replaces hydropower as the second-largest source of electricity in the United States, after coal. (DOE)
Improving Fuel Economy
In 1974, in response to the oil crisis, a regulation passed requiring auto manufacturers to meet a Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standard by 1985. This CAFE standard requires a fuel economy of 27.5 miles per gallon for all new cars and light trucks. (DOE)
Photo Credit: EIA
A Future for Clean Coal
Congress passes The Clean Coal Technology Act, providing money to study the feasibility of using clean coal technologies on a commercial scale. (DOE)
OPEC Lowers Price of Crude Oil
OPEC lowers the price of crude oil for the first time, by increasing production. Oil consumption grows quickly while prices remain low. (DOE)
Worst Nuclear Disaster in History
Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident occurs in the former USSR (now Ukraine). (DOE)
ABC video from 1986: https://abcnews.go.com/Archives/video/chernobyl-disaster-nuclear-plant-soviet-1986-9843882
Largest Solar Thermal Power Plant
The world’s largest solar thermal facility is built in Kramer Junction, California. The solar field contains rows of mirrors that concentrate the sun’s energy onto a system of pipes circulating a heat transfer fluid. The heat transfer fluid is used to produce steam, which powers a conventional turbine to generate electricity. (EERE)
A Breath of Fresh Air
The Clean Air Act Amendments require gasoline and diesel fuels to be less polluting. (DOE)
Link: https://www.epa.gov/clean-air-act-overview/clean-air-act-highlights-1990-amendments
Middle East Conflict Affects World’s Oil
Iraq invades Kuwait causing crude oil prices to increase. (DOE)
Federal Waste Reduction
President Bush issues Executive Order 12780, which stimulates waste reduction, recycling, and buying recycled goods in all federal agencies. (DOE)
First Distributed Power System on the Grid
Pacific Gas & Electric installs the first grid-supported photovoltaic system in Kerman, California. The 500-kilowatt system is the first distributed power effort. (EERE)
Nuclear Power Generates 20% of U.S. Electricity
109 nuclear power plants operate in the U.S., generating about one-fifth of the nation’s electricity. (DOE)
Demonstrating CSP Technology
The U.S. Department of Energy, along with an industry consortium, begins operating Solar Two—an upgrade of its Solar One concentrating solar power tower project. Operating until 1999, Solar Two demonstrates how solar energy can be stored efficiently and economically so that power can be produced even when the sun isn’t shining. It also fosters commercial interest in power towers. (EERE)
Photo Credit: Solar Two
World’s First Hybrid Electric Vehicle
The Toyota Prius debuts in Japan as the world’s first mass-produced hybrid electric vehicle. It isn’t available worldwide until the year 2000. (DOE)
Toyota Hybrid engine via https://blog.toyota.co.uk/history-toyota-prius
First Free-Range Rover on Mars
On July 4th, the Mars Pathfinder lands on Mars to deliver Sojourner, the first free-range robotic rover, to the surface of the red planet. It operates for three months, sending data and images back to Earth. (NASA)
Mars Pathfinder via https://mars.nasa.gov/mars-exploration/missions/pathfinder/
Asian Financial Crisis
The Asian financial crisis has worldwide economic effects. The demand for petroleum products declines and oil prices fall. (DOE)
Electric Utility Deregulation Begins
States with electric utility deregulation allow consumers to choose their electricity provider. (DOE)
Tall Neutrino Discovery
Fermi Lab scientists observe the tall neutrino subatomic particle. (DOE)
Recycling Helps Reduce Emissions
The EPA establishes a link between global climate change and solid waste management, noting that waste reduction and recycling can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. (DOE)
Great Blackout
The nation’s largest-ever power outage leaves 50 million people in the Northeast and parts of Canada without electricity for several days. (DOE)
Zero-Emissions Coal Goal
President Bush announces the United States will sponsor a $1 billion, 10-year demonstration project to create the world’s first coal-based, zero-emissions electricity and hydrogen power plant. (DOE)
U.S.-Led Invasion of Iraq
The invasion of Iraq disrupts crude oil supplies. (DOE)
First 3-Megawatt Wind Turbine
Vestas installs the first commercial 3-megawatt wind turbine in the U.S. (AWEA)
Energy Policy Act of 2005
Congress passes the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which promotes the use of coal through clean coal technologies, requires increasing use of renewable fuels for transportation, and new measures to reduce pollution from gasoline and diesel. (DOE)
A Destructive Hurricane Season
Hurricanes Katrina (August) and Rita (September) cause massive damage to the nation’s petroleum and natural gas infrastructure. In September, U.S. residential natural gas prices reach a new high of $16.66 per thousand cubic feet. (DOE)
Link: https://www.energy.gov/management/august-29-2005-hurricane-katrina
Hydroelectric Powerhouse
The U.S. ranks among the top four countries in the world for hydroelectric generation, along with China, Canada, and Brazil, generating 44% of the world’s electricity from hydropower. (DOE)
Electric Sports Car
A small Silicon Valley startup, Tesla Motors, debuts a luxury electric sports car that will go more than 200 miles on a single charge. Less than 2,500 vehicles are produced, by retrofitting the battery and electric motor into a European sports car. (DOE)
Reducing the Cost of Wind Energy
The first 105-meter (345-foot) wind tower is installed in the U.S. by Enel Green Power North America. The new technology, along with the increased availability of large rotors, contributes to a 90 percent reduction in the cost of wind energy since 1980. (AWEA)
Record High Oil
Oil prices reach a new high – over $145 per barrel. Gasoline prices break $4.00 per gallon. (EIA)
Great Recession
A worldwide financial crisis occurs, it is the biggest economic downturn since the Great Depression. (DOE)
Developing Electric Vehicle Batteries and Building Charging Stations
The American Recovery and Investment Act of 2009 allocates $2 billion to develop electric vehicle batteries and related technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy adds another $115 million to build electric charging stations across the country. This helps reignite the electric vehicle industry. In addition, the U.S. Department of Energy invests over $31 billion to support clean energy projects and infrastructure updates nationwide. (DOE)
Photo Credit: The Valley Hospital
Deadly Coal Mine Accident
An underground explosion at the Upper Big Branch Mine in West Virginia kills 29 miners. This is the worst mining accident in the U.S. since 1970. (EIA)
New Safety Measures for Offshore Drilling
Secretary of the Interior Salazar announces a 6-month hold or “moratorium” on deep water drilling. The drilling ban ends in October after new safety rules for offshore drilling and new requirements for oil spill response and containment are adopted. (EIA)
Another Coal Mine Accident
A mine collapse in northern Chile traps 33 miners half a mile underground. After 69 days, everyone is rescued. (history.com)
First Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle for Sale in America
The Chevy Volt is the first plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) built and sold in the U.S. It has a gasoline engine that supplements its electric drive if the battery runs low, allowing consumers to drive on electric for most trips but use gasoline to extend the vehicle’s range. (DOE)
Photo Credit: John Biehler
Natural Disasters Affect Energy Use
The Tohoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami causes an accident and shutdown at the Tokyo Electric Power Company’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Without nuclear power, Japan turns to thermal energy for power generation. Japan’s LNG consumption increases 27%. (EIA)
Final Space Shuttle Mission
NASA uses hydrogen gas as rocket fuel to deliver crew and cargo to space for 30 years. On July 8, 2011, the Atlantis Space Shuttle launches from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the 135th, and final, mission of the space shuttle program. (NASA)
Photo Credit: ISS Expedition 28 Crew, NASA [public domain]
Soaring Oil Prices
Crude oil markets sustain high price levels in 2011. The spot price of Brent averages $111.26 per barrel, marking the first time the global benchmark averages more than $100 per barrel for a year. (EIA)
World Record Magnetic Pulse
National Lab scientists achieve a 100.75-Tesla magnetic pulse, setting a world record. The pulse is nearly 2 million times more powerful than Earth’s magnetic field. The 100-Tesla multi-shot magnet can be used over and over again without being destroyed by the force of the field it creates and produces the most powerful non-destructive magnetic field in the world. (DOE)
Link: https://www.energy.gov/articles/teslas-lab-los-alamos-powerful-magnets-come-full-circle
Tidal Power Begins Generating Electricity for the Grid
Cobscook Bay Tidal Energy Project, the nation’s first commercial, grid-connected tidal energy project, begins operating off the coast of Eastport, Maine. (DOE)
Link: https://tethys.pnnl.gov/project-sites/cobscook-bay-tidal-energy-project
Photo Credit: TidGen™ Power System
Licenses to Build Nuclear Reactors
In February, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issues the first-ever combined licenses to build and operate two new nuclear reactors at the Vogtle Power Plant in Georgia (the NRC has not issued a license to build a new reactor since 1978). In March, the NRC issues combined licenses to build and operate two new reactors at the Summer Power Plant in South Carolina. (DOE)
Link: https://www.georgiapower.com/company/plant-vogtle.html
First Commercial Delivery in Space
SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft is the first commercial spacecraft to deliver cargo to and from the International Space Station. (spacex.com)
Nuclear Reactors Under Construction
Construction begins on two new nuclear reactors at the existing Vogtle Nuclear Power Plant in Georgia, the first nuclear reactors to be built in nearly 30 years. (DOE)
Studying Energy in Ocean Currents
Florida Atlantic University receives permits for offshore ocean current testing in the gulf stream. (snmrec.fau.edu)
Autonomous Vehicle Prototype
Google unveils its autonomous vehicle, Waymo. The prototype of the driverless car has no steering wheel or pedals. (digitaltrends.com)
Link: https://waymo.com/
First Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicle for Lease in America
Hyundai’s Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle is the first commercially leased FCEV in America. (DOE)
A New Way to Store Solar Energy at Home
Tesla’s first-generation Powerwall launches. Powerwall integrates with solar to store excess energy generated during the day and makes it available when you need it, minimizing reliance on your utility. (tesla.com)
Studying Wave Energy at Nation’s First Test Facility
The first U.S. grid-connected wave energy test facility becomes fully operational at the Marine Corps base at Kaneohe Bay on Oahu, Hawaii. (cbsnews.com)
Developing the First Open-Ocean Wave Energy Test Facility
The U.S. Department of Energy awards Oregon State University $35 million to permit, design, construct and operate a full-scale wave energy test facility seven miles off the Oregon Coast on the outer continental shelf in the Pacific Ocean. The facility, PacWave, expects to be operational in 2021. The open-ocean, power grid-connected test facility, will be a pre-permitted site for testing all types of wave energy conversion technologies. It is the first of its kind in the United States. (DOE)
Clean Coal Power
Petra Nova, the world’s largest post-combustion carbon capture system on a retrofitted coal-fired power plant, successfully begins commercial operations. The Houston, Texas electric generating station captures carbon dioxide and uses it for enhanced oil recovery at a depleted oil field 80 miles away. Petra Nova’s success includes capturing over 3.27 million short tons of carbon dioxide, sending it into associated storage, and producing over 3.3 million barrels of oil through enhanced oil recovery at the depleted oil field. The project is part of the Department of Energy’s Clean Coal Power Initiative program. (DOE)
Solar Industry Jobs
The U.S. solar industry supports over 242,000 workers in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. (thesolarfoundation.org)
World’s Fastest, Most Powerful Supercomputer
Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Summit supercomputer is named the fastest, most powerful supercomputer in the world. Summit is capable of 200 petaflops – or 200,000 trillion calculations per second. (DOE)
Photo Credit: Carlos Jones/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy
World’s First Hydrogen-Powered Train
The Coradia iLint, the world’s first passenger train powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, begins commercial passenger service in Germany. This zero-emission train emits low levels of noise and only steam and condensed water as exhaust. (Alstom.com)
Photo Credit: ubahnverleih
Self-Driving Cars Around Town
Waymo, the company that emerged from Google’s self-driving-car project, officially starts its commercial self-driving-car service in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. The service isn’t open to the general public and human safety operators remain behind the wheel. Waymo claims its driverless vehicles have been roaming the streets under test conditions for more than 10 million miles. (wired.com)
Historic Flight for World’s First Passenger Spaceship
Virgin Galactic’s SpaceShipTwo, VSS Unity, completes its first spaceflight. This is the first human spaceflight launching from American soil since the final space shuttle mission in 2011. Virgin Galactic operates a reusable spaceflight system, which includes a carrier aircraft and the world’s first spaceship carrying passengers into space for commercial service. (virgingalactic.com)
Leading the World in Petroleum and Natural Gas Production
Crude oil production in the U.S. increases by 17%, setting a new record of nearly 11.0 million barrels per day and surpassing Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of petroleum. Production in the Permian region of western Texas and eastern New Mexico contribute to most of the growth. In addition, U.S. dry natural gas production increases by 12% to 28.5 billion cubic feet per day, reaching a record high for the second year in a row. (EIA)
Commercial Hydrogen Fuel Cell Usage
There are more than 26,000 hydrogen fuel cell forklifts in use in warehouses, stores, and manufacturing facilities in the United States. Over 30 hydrogen fuel cell buses are providing transit service in various states including California, Massachusetts, Michigan, and Ohio. There are about 40 public, retail hydrogen stations where customers can drive up, fuel, and pay just like at a gasoline station, most located in California. More than 7,500 fuel cell cars are on the road. (EERE)
Photo Credit: BMW Manufacturing
Oscillating Water Column Buoy
Ocean Energy’s oscillating water column buoy begins 12 months of open ocean, grid-connected testing at the Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site in Hawaii. (EERE)
Link: https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/articles/ocean-energy-buoy-ribbon-cutting-ceremony
Wind Power Generates More Electricity Than Hydropower
Almost 60,000 wind turbines produce power in 41 states, Guam and Puerto Rico (AWEA). Annual wind generation in the U.S. exceeds hydroelectric generation for the first time. Wind power is now the top renewable source of electricity generation in the country. (EIA)
Photo Credit: Dennis Schroeder/NREL
Record-Breaking Crude Oil Production
In November, monthly U.S. crude oil production averages 12.86 million barrels per day, the most monthly crude oil production in U.S. history. U.S. crude oil production increases significantly during the past 10 years, mainly due to production from tight rock formations developed using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to extract hydrocarbons. (EIA)
The Price of a Barrel of Oil Reaches a Historic Low
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declares the novel coronavirus a pandemic. In the days and weeks that follow, Governors in most states give “shelter in place” or “stay at home” orders for everyone except essential workers. Schools close and children finish the school year by distance learning. Over 30 million Americans file for unemployment as businesses, hotels, stores, and restaurants close. People working from home no longer commute or travel for business. The world is producing more oil than it is using. Due to the complexity of oil pricing and oil trading, in April, the price of a barrel of oil reaches -$37.63. Some oil sellers must pay oil buyers to take their fuel. Off the coast of Long Beach, California, dozens of full oil tankers remain at anchor in the harbor waiting for refineries to accept their shipments. (nytimes.com, dailybreeze.com)
Happy 40th Birthday NEED!
This year, The NEED Project celebrates 40 years of energy education.
