Groups, including Illinois Corn Growers, applaud measure to protect automobile choice

[December 08, 2023]  By Kevin Bessler | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – The Illinois Corn Growers Association is among several groups applauding the passage of a bill in the U.S. House that strikes down the Biden administration’s aggressive electric vehicle standards.

By the bipartisan vote of 221-197 Wednesday, the U.S. House passed the Choice in Automobile Retail Sales Act. The CARS Act strikes down a Biden administration initiative that would require two out of every three new vehicles be electric by 2032. The measure now moves onto the U.S. Senate.

The CARS Act would also prevent the EPA from implementing future vehicle emissions regulations that would mandate certain technologies or limit the availability of vehicles based on engine type.

Brad Stotler, director of public policy for Illinois Corn, said forcing farmers in rural areas to use electric vehicles is unrealistic.

“Certain people choose cars for their lifestyles and that is a huge part of choice when you’re deciding what vehicle you have, and without infrastructure around to charge your car, why would you make that decision as a consumer to buy one,” Stotler told The Center Square.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s goals are similar to the Biden administration’s plans. Pritzker has said he would like to see 1 million electric vehicles on Illinois roads by 2030.

In 2022, the Pritzker administration unveiled an electric vehicle rebate program, which offers a $4,000 rebate for consumers to purchase an electric vehicle. But nearly 4,000 car dealers sent a letter to the Biden administration opposing the EV mandate citing a lack of demand from consumers.

A Rivian electric truck.
Photo: [e-mail]

The Department of Energy reported that the average range of model year 2021 gasoline vehicles was 403 miles compared to the median 234-mile range for EVs.

Stotler said the government mandating the use of EVs would also be detrimental to Illinois corn growers.

“That could create demand destruction within the liquid fuels marketplace and therefore impact the use of ethanol and demand destruction for corn, as well,” Stotler said.

Stotler added that agricultural groups want to be a part of the push to reduce carbon emissions in transportation fuels.

The American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers are also pushing for the CARS Act.

“Sixty percent of Americans oppose the EPA’s de facto ban,” AFPM CEO Chet Thompson said in a statement. “Forcing electric vehicle adoption and effectively banning entire vehicle powertrains and fuels based on just one category of emissions is illogical environmental policy, horrible for consumers and detrimental to our national interests.”