This will be a bike ride and talk led by Rich Miller, who previously was both NYC Energy Policy Chief (1998-2003) and Vice-President for Energy and Environmental Law at Con Edison. He has authored articles on the history of electricity and New York City’s role.
The modern electricity grid began in Lower Manhattan on September 4, 1882, when Thomas Edison started up the first grid based electric system with a power plant located on Pearl Street. This trip/talk will focus on how this happened and transformed New York City and the world. The trip/talk will also discuss two other prominent persons from this time. Nikola Tesla, who had laboratories at 89 Liberty Street and near Washington Square Park; and JP Morgan who had an Edison electric generator in his house at 36th and Madison Avenue in 1881.
Accessibility
This is a bike ride. People should be comfortable riding a bicycle in an urban environment. But the ride will be mostly on protected bike lanes.
