During the energy crisis of the 1970s, President Jimmy Carter vowed to improve America's energy independence and reduce its environmental impact. In his four years as president, Jimmy Carter passed landmark laws and changed the country's energy use.
Among these changes were the National Energy Act and the Department of Energy. Both of which reduced oil exports and promoted the use of renewable energy sources. In addition, he deregulated the trucking and airline industries and appointed record numbers of women and blacks to Government jobs.
The energy crisis highlighted the United States' reliance on imported oil, and many Americans were forced to stand in long gas station lines as prices increased dramatically. These events, say experts, set the stage for Carter to push for energy efficiency improvements and increased use of alternate energy.
Growing up on a farm in Plains (Ga.), a windmill was the first thing that made him think about green energy. A small generator in the backyard was an inventive solution that enabled the family to have running water. Today, this site is a National Historic Park.
Dorner Carter, a volunteer who worked at Jimmy Carter Boyhood Farm said that Carter was passionate about the natural world and the need to preserve it. "He was the one who was pushing conservation and environmental movements, which are so famous," said Dorner Carmichael. "It was an important part of his lifetime."
His family had moved from the city to a small farming community in Plains around 1924. It was an area that valued education as well as community service.
When Carter was a child, his father, Earl Carter, raised cotton, corn and sugar cane on the farm, along with peanuts. Carter also ran a commissary/country store where he offered kerosene, canned food, and overalls for farmers and other land dwellers.
The Carter family also built a large pond and a small creek that was used for fishing and canoeing, which was a popular pastime in the area. The Carters planted a lot of pecan trees and stored their things in an old shed.
Carter brought in the Clean Air Act for smog regulation during his tenure as president. He installed 32 solar cells on the White House's roof in 1979 as a way to show that he supported renewable energy, and also to promote a greener, cleaner economy. The panels remained in place until 1986, when President Ronald Reagan had them removed.
He was a politician who was able to change the energy landscape in a very short period of time, and he has left his mark on the world. He is an example for anyone looking to create a future that is more environmentally friendly. His legacy lives on through his work for Habitat for Humanity or his fight against melanoma metastatic.