Women’s Historical Figures in Utilities

(1900–1995): A biophysicist known as the “Sun Queen,” she developed the first solar-powered home heating system and a solar-powered oven.

(1883–1959): The first woman to earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering from MIT, she invented a graphical calculator to solve long-distance transmission problems and was the first female electrical engineering professor.

(1898–1979): The first woman to earn a Ph.D. in physics from Cambridge University and the first female scientist at General Electric Research Laboratories, she developed nonreflective, “invisible” glass coatings crucial for solar panel efficiency.

(1933-2011): A “human computer” and computer scientist for NACA/NASA, she conducted pioneering research on battery technology, solar, and wind energy, laying the groundwork for modern hybrid vehicles.

(1937-Present): Served as the first female and first African American U.S. Secretary of Energy (1993–1997), establishing crucial offices for economic impact and diversity.