On Wednesday, several prominent Republican politicians and organizations representing the energy business lashed out at the Biden administration for announcing stringent new restrictions that will crack down on pollution from gasoline-powered vehicles.
The White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new, stringent pollution rules on Wednesday morning. Critics claimed the event showed President Biden wants to outlaw traditional gas automobiles in favor of electric vehicles (EVs). According to the White House, the regulations would hasten the transition to cleaner vehicles and cut emissions by approximately 10 billion tons by 2055.
Model years 2027 through 2032 will be affected by the new regulations for tailpipe emissions. Automakers are expected to be compelled to speed up the production of electric alternatives in response to the laws, which demand a massive 56% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2032 vehicles compared to 2026 models.
If the requirements are adopted, the White House predicts that by 2032, 67% of the new car, crossover, SUV, and light truck purchases may be electric. The acquisition of half of all buses and garbage trucks, thirty-five percent of all short-haul freight tractors, and twenty-five percent of all long-haul freight tractors might all be electric within the next decade.
According to Michael Regan, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, there has never been a more stringent set of pollution requirements for automobiles. He continued by saying that the regulations would ensure crucial reductions in harmful air and climate pollution.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, has stated that the Biden administration has made it evident that it intends to decide for Americans what types of automobiles we are allowed to purchase, lease, and operate.
It takes nearly a decade to get a permit to mine for the minerals needed to make electric vehicles, so businesses are forced to look to China for these raw materials, she continued, adding that the emissions standards were erroneous and made without taking into account the difficulties that American automakers are still facing.
The member from West Virginia pointed out that the Biden administration is doing all in its power to retire existing fossil fuel power plants, which might threaten the stability of the national grid as more and more vehicles switch to electric power.
In addition, trade associations representing the energy industry criticized the declaration made on Wednesday, stating that it would be equivalent to a ban on gasoline-powered automobiles and would increase dependency on supplies imported from abroad.
A report by the Brookings Institution published in 2016 found that China possessed 78 percent of global cell manufacturing capacity for EV batteries. China is also the world leader in mining and processing the essential minerals used in EV batteries.
It’s unacceptable that the Administration would suggest this knowing full well that China regulates 80% of global battery production capacity, even with robust U.S. investment to fortify its electric grid and grow its battery supply chains by order of magnitude 10, said American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers President and CEO Chet Thompson.