Originally published July 6, 2023 8:00 pm PDT
In a recent press release, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, accompanied by a coalition of 25 states, has challenged the Biden Administration’s “radical regulations” on tailpipe emissions.
The administration’s plan, which would dramatically accelerate the phase-out of gas-powered vehicles in favor of electric vehicles (EVs), has been met with fervent opposition led by Cameron and West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey.
“President Biden wants to use the power of government to force a massive shift in demand for automobiles, with the government putting its thumb on the scale in favor of EVs. But Americans don’t want what he is selling,” argued General Cameron.
He further emphasized the perceived overreach by the administration, claiming it to be a manifestation of “the left’s impossible green-energy fantasies.”
According to the press release, the Biden Administration’s proposal aims to escalate the proportion of EV sales from the current 8.4% to a staggering 67% by 2032.
The coalition, led by Cameron and Morrisey, has warned against this plan.
They allege that it would severely damage the economy, compromise the reliability of our electrical grids, impose undue burdens on families and businesses, and even pose a threat to national security.
The Attorneys General argue that America’s power grids are neither capacitated nor secure enough to safely accommodate the EPA’s proposed rule.
They believe that the rapid shift towards EVs would be “counterproductive and misguided,” adding that it hampers American energy independence, making the country less secure.
Further expressing concerns about the impact on the automotive supply chain, the coalition asserted that the quick pace of electrification would increase dependence on foreign adversaries like China.
“This is the latest head-in-the-sand approach to achieving the left’s impossible green-energy fantasies. Government shouldn’t pick winners and losers, and an EPA rule that would kill gas-powered vehicles does just that,” Cameron stated.
The coalition also underlined the current economic burden on consumers, with the average EV selling for $61,448 at the end of 2022.
They highlighted the financial struggles faced by Americans due to record inflation, high gasoline prices, and rising utility bills.
“Many consumers will be unable to afford EVs even if they want them,” the press release mentioned.
Attorney General Cameron’s opposition to the Biden administration’s policies is not new.
He led a 19-state coalition earlier this year, opposing what they perceived as excessive EPA regulation of air quality standards, proposals to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and attempts to ban more than 50 percent of gas stoves currently on the market.
Cameron and Morrisey’s coalition consists of 25 states, including Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming.
You can read the full letter here:
