As we rush into an era of innovation, careful consideration must be taken for the communities holding our nation together. Repeatedly overlooked, rural residents are often those involved in labor-intensive work, like farming or logging, that everyday people across the country rely on. The EPA’s tailpipe emissions rule, designed to artificially increase electric vehicle (EV) sales, will have significant consequences for both American consumers forced to purchase expensive vehicles, and the businesses forced to meet the demands of an ill-fitted transition.
It’s time for more consideration to be given to rural communities that keep the nation running by revoking this ill-conceived rule. Traditional gas vehicles that have been the foundation of our communities will essentially be banned in a few short years should Biden’s EPA get its way. The rules enforce that more than half of light and medium-duty vehicles be electric by 2032, drastically reducing the number of new gas vehicles available on the market.
This burdensome mandate will force financially-conscious Montanans to spend outside of their budget for a vehicle that’s wildly incompatible with their lifestyle. A recent lawsuit brought forward by the American Petroleum Institute, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and other partners against the EPA’s mandate is a step in the right direction to bring security back to the communities that support us. For the EPA to create a rule that drastically threatens the availa.