Will the Biden administration’s latest energy rules force Americans out of gas vehicles and more expensive electric cars? Lawmakers in the U.S. House held a hearing on that important question on Wednesday.
The hearing, held by the Oversight Committee’s subcommittee on economic growth, energy policy and regulatory affairs, focused on newly proposed exhaust emission rules from the Environmental Protection Agency that the federal agency itself called “ambitious.”
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The EPA projections that the proposed regulation would mean that by 2032, all-electric vehicles would account for two-thirds of all new “light duty” and 46% of new medium-duty vehicles.
The EPA, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, said in a press release that the rules would improve air quality and prevent “nearly 10 billion tons of CO2 emissions.” The rule changes still face a lengthy public comment and approval process and avoidance of an amendment by Congress once implemented.
“By proposing the most ambitious pollution standards ever for cars and trucks, we are delivering on the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to protect people and the planet, secure critical reductions in hazardous air and climate pollution, and deliver significant economic benefits. such as reduced fuel and maintenance costs for families,” said EPA Administrator Michael Regan.
The rule proposal was a focus of Republicans during Wednesday’s hearing.
“The rules would require an incredibly fast EV transition that the industry, the network and consumer demand cannot keep up with,” U.S. Representative Pat Fallon, R-Texas, chair of the subcommittee, said at the hearing. “In addition, the critical supply chain of minerals is already under pressure. Does EPA know if there is enough raw material to meet the proposed standards?”
Fallon pointed out that he’s not against electric vehicles, just against the federal effort to rapidly replace gas-powered vehicles through state regulation. He also said EPA officials were invited to testify but declined.
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“We hope that this hearing will raise the alarm about the costs these two regulations impose on US consumers, US manufacturers, the US economy and US national security,” Fallon said.
Some witnesses argued against the EPA’s claims, poking holes in the assumptions about electric vehicles.
“The EPA defines EVs as zero-emission vehicles. However, EVs are not truly zero-emissions vehicles,” Josh Roe, CEO of the Kansas Corn Growers Association, said during his testimony. “Although they have no exhaust, you still have to take into account the emissions that come from the electricity grid. The US electricity grid is currently 60% powered by coal and natural gas. Current and proposed EPA rules do not account for these upstream emissions when calculating compliance, let alone the additional emissions and toxic pollution caused by rare earth mining around the world.
Roe pointed out the additional costs for Americans, especially farmers and rural people.
“EVs are $10,000-25,000 more expensive than comparable internal combustion engine vehicles, making them out of reach for many consumers, including those in rural America where median incomes are lower than those of urban areas,” he said.
Critics say the new rule is the latest in what they call the Biden administration’s ongoing war against US energy and fossil fuel companies. They point to Biden’s discouragement of pipeline investment and allowing oil, while at the same time calling on other countries to produce more oil.
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“The government has a government-wide mission to address climate change, regardless of the law or consumer choices,” Kathleen Sgamma, president of the Western Energy Alliance, told The Center Square, adding that the rule changes would “impose everyone in force electric vehicles.”
The Biden administration is playing by the rules, one of many changes to implement a more progressive, green agenda at the federal level.
“These ambitious standards are easily achievable thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, which is already driving historic progress toward building more American-made electric cars and securing America’s global competitiveness,” Regan said.
Syndicated with permission from the Center Square.
