U.S. President gets Electric Car (over 100 years ago)

This Fine Milburn electric car dates from 1921, the same year President Woodrow and Mrs. Wilson moved into their new home on Washington’s S Street. The Wilsons were early enthusiasts of the electric car. In fact, First Lady Edith Wilson, before she married the President, is thought to be the first woman in Washington to drive an electric car, which she purchased in 1904. Electric vehicles were especially popular with women during this period, as they did not require cranking and were virtually maintenance-free.

During Wilson’s presidency, his secret service agents drove Milburn Light Electrics and even President Wilson is reported to have owned a 1918 Milburn Electric which he drove around the White House grounds. The Wilsons’ Milburn had a maximum speed 35 mph and a maximum range 60-75 miles per charge. Shortly after retiring to their home on S Street in 1921, Wilson presented his wife Edith with a Rauch and Lang Electric car purchased with the $5,000 in legal fees he earned from his partnership with former Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby.

This anecdotal note in history would be interesting all on its own, but the first president to drive an electric car came before Woodrow Wilson (1909 – 1913). In fact, William Taft was the first president to drive any car and even had the White House stables replaced with a garage following his election victory. The first presidential fleet included two Pierce-Arrows and a White Steam car. One of the most interesting cars he owned, however, was, ironically enough -- a Baker Electric.

Other Presidential accomplishments include Jimmy Carter installing 32 solar panels on the presidential mansion amid the Arab oil embargo which was causing a national energy crisis. The Democratic president called for a campaign to conservative energy to set an example to the American people.  According to the White House Historical Association, he ordered the solar panels erected in 1979.

Past presidents have also had a hand in dam…..

Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River on the border between the US states of Arizona and Nevada. It was constructed between 1931 and 1936 during the Great Depression and was dedicated on September 30, 1935 by President Franklin Roosevelt. The construction of the Hoover Dam was the result of a massive effort involving thousands of workers and cost over one-hundred lives. The dam was controversially named in honor of President Herbert Hoover.

Grand Coulee Dam is a gravity dam on the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington built to produce hydroelectric power and provide irrigation. It was constructed between 1933 and 1942 - originally with two power plants. A third power station was completed in 1974 to increase its energy production. It is the largest electric power-producing facility in the United States and one of the largest concrete structures in the world. The reservoir is called Franklin Delano Roosevelt Lake who presided over the authorization and completion of the dam when he was president.

There have also been additional green accomplishments by other Presidents and we applaud every one of them. But on this President’s day, it is crucial to look back and ponder - when did we lose the war on clean energy? Even today we have a President that has refused to put the solar panels back on the White House.  Maybe he is nervous about inviting any comparison to one-term Democratic president Carter in the run-up to the very difficult mid-term elections in November.

President Obama does deserve credit for the support he has already given to renewable energy. But I bet it would be his wish to be the first President to reside over an Offshore Wind Farm. Or better yet Mr. President:  If solar panels on the White House are for single term presidents, maybe a turbine on the White House lawn could represent a two term president…I’m just saying.

Happy Presidents Day........

By George Lopez, the Publisher and Executive Director of Solar and Wind Living