Timeline: How We Learned to Love—and Hate—Natural Gas
From bridge fuel to fracking, a history of the little blue flame.
|1825||In Chautauqua County, New York, William Hart discovers natural gas reserves. Uses gas to light buildings in Fredonia; town’s official seal features five burners representing those lights.|
|1940s||Worried about German subs targeting tankers, government supports construction of oil pipelines from Texas to East Coast; after war, pipelines approved for gas transport as well.|
|1950||Natural gas use begins steady climb, will nearly double over next two decades.|
|1954||Federal government establishes price controls for interstate gas sales, making it more lucrative to sell in states where it’s produced. Shortages ensue across Midwest and East Coast.|
|1970||Gas’ share of US energy consumption peaks at 30 percent (25 percent today).|
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