For this month’s blog, we’re covering a historical event that holds significance for both New Jersey and electricity as we know it.
ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY:
In 1883, the very first electric lighting system to employ overhead wires (built by Thomas Edison) began service at Roselle, New Jersey.
This milestone was an experiment for Edison, who was trying to prove that an entire community could be lit by electricity from a shared, central generating station. (He also used incandescent light bulbs, but you can’t blame the guy. LEDs weren’t invented yet.)
The steam generator itself was located on the north-east corner of Locust Street and West First Avenue and gave power to a store, railroad station, about forty houses, and one-hundred-fifty street lights. A time capsule and marker now stands in its place.
(Source: https://www.boroughofroselle.com/pages/about-roselle.)
New Jersey (and the world) has come a long way in how it generates power but it could use some help! You can do your part by becoming more energy efficient. If you own a business in New Jersey, we can handle your energy upgrade and provide you with funding from New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program™. (Click here to learn more).
For municipalities looking to upgrade their own street lights to LEDs, NJ SmartStart Buildings can help (and so can we).
For residential energy efficiency programs, visit http://www.njcleanenergy.com for more information.
