"AC power changed the shape of industry on a large scale. Previously, industries had to be located in close proximity to a body of water because they relied either on the water's power or a steam generator that used the water supply. When electricity became available on a large scale, factories no longer needed to be built on these bodies of water. AC power could be transmitted great distances from a single generation station with minimal voltage loss. This changed the locale of factories. Now factories could be built n places previously restricted, allowing factories to be built closer to raw materials, other factories, and markets." Alex Leslie student in STS program at Penn state
Alternating current brought great change to the locations of factories because they no longer had to rely on water power or steam power. Since alternating current could have high enough voltage for machines in factories to function even if far from an AC central station.
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