President Biden's EPA has implemented new pollution standards for vehicles built between 2027 and 2032.
The aim is to boost the production of efficient gasoline-powered, hybrid, and electric vehicles. The standards are expected to cut carbon output and eliminate over 7 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions, with a societal benefit of over $100 billion. The United Automobile Workers union supports the rule, which aims for 56% of vehicle sales to be electric by 2032.
West Virginia's political leaders, including U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito and U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin, have expressed concerns about the new rule. They worry that the federal government should not dictate what vehicles consumers can buy and have raised concerns about the strain on the electric grid with a significant shift to electric vehicles.
In 2023, electric vehicle sales made up 7.6% of total sales, up from 5.8% in 2022. However, West Virginia only had 1,870 electric vehicles registered in 2022. Despite the presence of publicly accessible charging stations for electric vehicles in the state, concerns persist about the slow deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure.
Other state leaders like U.S. Rep. Alex Mooney and Attorney General Patrick Morrisey have opposed the new rule, citing potential impacts on rural Americans and the energy industry. They argue that the rule could negatively affect those who rely on gas-powered vehicles and could further burden rural Americans.