science · 30 November 1886 · 138 years ago
In 1886, the first commercially successful U.S. alternating current power plant was opened at Buffalo, N.Y. by George Westinghouse. Compared to Thomas Edison's direct currect ventures, AC transmission distance could be increased by miles using transformers at the source for transmission at much higher voltage, which also decreased energy losses. (Earlier in the year, on 6 Mar 1886, he operated an experimental facility, the first AC power plant in the U.S., at Great Barrington, Mass. where he demonstrated transmission at 500 volts for 4000 feet, stepped down to 100-volt for lights in stores. It began generating commercial power two weeks later, but it was shortly abandoned when it became damaged by an accident.)
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