Charleston Leader

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, expressed her concerns regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) new electric vehicles mandate. Senator Capito criticized the finalized rules, stating, "With the final electric vehicle rules announced today, the Biden administration is deciding for Americans which kinds of cars they are allowed to buy, rent, and drive." She further pointed out the contradiction in the EPA's actions, noting, "Ironically, this is all coming at a time when the EPA is simultaneously forcing the closure of power plants that provide the baseload electricity these vehicles will rely on."

Senator Capito raised apprehensions about the implications of the new regulations, emphasizing, "These regulations represent yet another step toward an unrealistic transition to electric vehicles that Americans do not want and cannot afford, which threatens America’s electric grid and increases our reliance on China for critical minerals." In conclusion, she acknowledged the efforts of her colleagues in addressing the issue, stating, "I appreciate EPW Committee members Senator Ricketts and Senator Sullivan leading the congressional effort to overturn this harmful rule."

The EPA's mandate has sparked significant debate and opposition, with Senator Capito at the forefront of voicing concerns about its potential impact on American consumers and the country's energy infrastructure.