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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.



ROGER WICKER: Emissions Rules are Costly to Americans and Profitable for China
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In an epic overreach of the administrative state, President Biden recently
proposed two changes to vehicle emissions standards, which would immediately
require the entire American auto industry to shift its focus to electric
vehicle production. His plan is a liberal pipe dream born of the same Green New
Deal fantasy that has driven his administration’s anti-domestic energy agenda.
If finalized, the proposed rules would increase costs for American families,
ensure our dependence on China, and dramatically alter the American way of life.


Biden's Plan is an Impossible Dream


The president’s plan raises vehicle emissions standards to such great heights
that auto manufacturers would have to convert most of their cars from gas to
electricity to comply with regulations. Last year, just 6 percent of cars
purchased in America were electric. Under President Biden’s plan, the share of
electric vehicles produced would rise to 67 percent within a decade. This is an
unrealistic goal that would force manufacturers to overhaul or shutter their
production lines completely.

A 1,000 percent increase in electric vehicles would strain an already-burdened
electric grid. The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association has
expressed concern over the reliability of existing American electric
infrastructure. Increasing charging demand would push our grid to the brink.

President Biden does not seem to remember how we generate the power behind his
preferred form of energy. A full 60 percent of American electricity comes from
burning natural gas and coal. The president wants to require more electricity
while at the same time his other green initiatives restrict the sources that
make it possible.


EV Rules Increase Our Dependence on China


The president and his party also seem to forget the huge cost in rare earth
minerals associated with electric cars. EV batteries are built using special
minerals, and the world’s leading producer of these materials is China. At any
time, the Biden administration could open more mineral mines and expedite the
permitting process that holds back domestic mineral production. Even if he
does, increasing electric vehicle supply means increasing dependence on our
primary adversary.

Even if President Biden could wave a magic wand and put EVs at every car
dealership, his plan would still be hugely disruptive. Automakers have achieved
some recent advances in EV technology, but it will be a long time before these
cars become convenient and cost-effective for every American.


EV Mandates Hurt Rural and Low-Income Americans


For many urban drivers, electric vehicles may make sense. The shorter commutes
and higher populations of cities make the limited range of EVs less burdensome
and building the necessary infrastructure more cost-effective. But for drivers
in rural areas, like Mississippi, who travel much longer distances on average
and who do not have access to charging stations, EVs could pose a real safety
risk and leave them stranded.

President Biden’s mandate also amounts to a tax on poor and middle-class
Americans. Electric vehicles are more expensive to produce than comparable
gas-powered cars. If automakers are compelled to go electric, price increases
would ripple through the industry. Producers may have to charge more for new
gas-powered cars to cover the production cost of EVs. This would drive up
demand for used cars, making them less affordable, too. Seen in light of
President Biden’s anti-energy policies, this new plan is another attack on
Americans’ pocketbooks.



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Thank you for your support,



Senator Roger Wicker


 
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