Mon Oct 07 20:10:00 UTC 2024: ## Corn Growers Fight Back Against Biden’s Electric Vehicle Push
**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – The battle over President Biden’s ambitious plan to transition to electric vehicles is heating up, with corn growers joining the fight against stricter tailpipe emission standards.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a resolution that would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) new emissions rules, which favor electric vehicles and prioritize their development. These rules aim to achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2032, targeting 56% of new vehicle sales to be electric and at least 13% to be plug-in hybrids.
The Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA), along with other agricultural groups and the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM), argue that the EPA’s plan unfairly prioritizes electric vehicles over alternative, clean-burning fuels like ethanol and biodiesel.
“The emissions standards the EPA released focused only on electric vehicles as a pathway to decarbonize the U.S. transportation sector and did not consider other alternatives,” said Dave Rylander, ICGA president and farmer. “We believe the EPA exceeded its authority by setting unrealistic targets that heavily favor electrification.”
The ICGA and AFPM have filed a lawsuit challenging the EPA’s rule, claiming it will harm consumers, the economy, and national security by effectively banning most gas-powered vehicles.
The Illinois Farm Bureau also voiced their concern, stating that the regulations would “incentivize and force the auto industry to prioritize further development of electric vehicle battery technology over liquid fuel alternatives, like corn-based ethanol and soy-based biodiesel.”
The resolution now heads to the Senate, where it faces an uphill battle against Democratic opposition. President Biden has vowed to veto the measure if it reaches his desk.
This fight highlights the ongoing debate over the future of transportation, with competing interests vying for dominance in a rapidly evolving market.
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