Republican governors from 16 states sent a letter to President Joe Biden this week pressing for a change in course on his plans to ensure two out of three vehicles sold by 2032 are electric.
“While battery electric vehicles are a promising technology, we believe it will take time to develop the marketplace, to address consumer access and concerns, and to build out the necessary infrastructure,” the governors said.
The Biden administration has announced a series of steps to encourage consumers to transition to electric vehicles, including $325 million in funding from the Departments of Transportation and Energy to improve charger infrastructure. According to the White House, sales of electric vehicles have quadrupled since Biden took office, and more than 4.5 million of the vehicles are currently in operation.
But in their letter, the governors express concern about the state of the infrastructure and consumer desire for the technology.
It’s easy to be “in the know” about what’s happening in Washington, D.C. Sign up for a FREE month of Agri-Pulse news! Simply click here.
“Ultimately, we must continue to maintain consumer choice. Your mandates are unrealistic, costly, and prescriptive solutions that harm American consumers,” the governors wrote.
In place of the 2032 timeline, the governors press Biden to “instead provide a more realistic approach by allowing the free market to determine the direction and timing for the industry’s growth rather than the federal government. Let American consumers decide for themselves.”
The letter was signed by Govs. Sarah Sanders (Arkansas), Brad Little (Idaho), Kim Reynolds (Iowa), Jeff Landry (Louisiana), Mike Parson (Missouri), Greg Gianforte (Montana), Jim Pillen (Nebraska), Joe Lombardo (Nevada), Chris Sununu (New Hampshire), Doug Burgum (North Dakota), Kevin Stitt (Oklahoma), Kristi Noem (South Dakota), Greg Abbott (Texas), Spencer Cox (Utah), Glenn Youngkin (Virginia), and Mark Gordon (Wyoming).
For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.
