At the beginning of the industrial revolution, many factories were located near which source of energy? windmills mountains oil fields running water solar panels

At the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, many factories were located near running water, source of energy.

Running water

Explanation:

The period of industrial revolution revolutionised the establishments of many factories at that time. The factory set up had a basic plan of choosing their set up location which was promptly done near the water source.

The running water source was thus chosen for the energy source. The factories which were set up were mostly of textiles and they all were mechanised.

The industrial revolution marked the development phase in the second half of  18th century. It essentially transformed European and American rural and agricultural communities into industrial and urban societies.