A letter signed by 3,466 farmers from across the country was sent to President Biden this month. The letter expresses concern that his administration is taking a short-sighted approach to addressing climate change by prioritizing the use of electric vehicles over biofuels, such as corn ethanol.
“If we are going to address climate change and meet our sustainability goals, we are going to have to take a multi-pronged approach, that includes tapping into higher levels of biofuels, such as corn ethanol, which offers an immediate climate solution,” the letter said.
The letter, which drew thousands of signatures in less than a week, comes as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency prepares to release its light and medium-duty vehicle tailpipe emissions standards for 2027-2032. To help meet the standards, the President has set a goal that 50% of all vehicle sales will be electric by 2030. A similar rulemaking is also being considered through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
A recent survey, sponsored by the National Corn Growers Association and conducted by Morning Consult, showed that Americans have concerns on a range of issues involving electric vehicles, including the accessibility of charging stations, and an overwhelming majority say vehicles that are compatible with biofuels should remain available to consumers.
In January, thousands of auto dealers from across the country signed on to a similar letter to the President noting that electric vehicles were not selling quickly and were piling up on dealer lots. In the most recent letter, the farmers said it could take years before EVs become popular with consumers, which means the administration must expand its focus and efforts to address Green House Gases with solutions that are available now.
“As a low-carbon, clean energy source and an affordable, homegrown fuel, ethanol serves as a critical pathway for agriculture and rural America to contribute to a sustainable future,” the letter noted. “We hope you will join us in fully embracing this technology as we all do our best to fight the causes and effects of climate change.”
The letter noted that California, one of the most prominent states in the push for electrification, has spent years at the forefront of the transition to EVs, spending enormous political capital and billions of dollars to encourage its citizens to embrace these vehicles. Yet, by the end of 2022, only 2.6% of the state’s light-duty vehicles were electrified.
EDITOR’S TAKE:
While the farmer letter may be “self-enlightened”, it does point to the unquestionable observation that the general public and farmers aren’t on board with the push for EV’s. They are NOT selling like hot cakes, but you already know that. This winter has also pointed to some additional reasons consumers are not enthralled with their performance. The farmers are correct in suggesting a multi-pronged approach to vehicles of the future. The market, not government mandates, will eventually provide us with the winners. In the meantime, be sure to let farmers/ranchers know that you support efforts like this that call for a more rational, reasoned approach to climate concerns. Also, put your current inventory on AgTruckTrader.com®. That website is directed specifically to farmers/ranchers across the U.S.
