Timeline Thursday 20 December 1951

Events on Thursday 20 December 1951 1

• 1951 Nuclear Reactor Generates Electricity for the First Time Experimental Breeder Reactor I lights four bulbs in Idaho The Experimental Breeder Reactor I near Arco, Idaho, became the first nuclear reactor to produce usable electricity, powering four light bulbs from its own generated current. The demonstration proved the feasibility of nuclear power for civilian electricity generation. It laid groundwork for commercial nuclear plants built in the following decades.