Staff Reports
The Biden administration unveiled plans to toss $1.7 billion into converting nearly a dozen shut down or struggling auto plants into electric vehicle (EV) production facilities. Picture the government swooping in like a green superhero, throwing money around to push the electric car agenda.
These taxpayer-funded grants are set to benefit 11 plants across Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, and Virginia. But don’t be fooled; this is not just about saving plants. The Department of Energy has labeled it as a move to prop up “good-paying union jobs” and position the U.S. competitively in the global EV market. Essentially, it’s trying to marry the climate agenda with union votes.
President Biden, taking his usual stance, wants to phase out gas guzzlers in favor of electric cars as part of his climate change dreamscape. He’s also donned the mantle of the working-class hero, aiming to make sure that these environmental goals don’t clash with union labor requirements. He believes this green wave will be a “win-win” for both union autoworkers and automakers. As if anyone has forgotten, Biden is always in campaign mode, and EVs have become a hot-button issue that he wants to milk for support.
Meanwhile, a new national poll doesn’t exactly cheer Biden’s EV pledges. With seven in 10 likely voters opposing bans on gas-powered cars and over 60% worried about future car choice, the American public isn’t charging their Teslas in celebration. Donald Trump has seized on this sentiment, criticizing what he calls Biden’s “EV mandates” that are “squeezing union workers” and granting China a golden key to the auto market treasure chest.
Despite Biden’s grand-standing, enthusiasm for EVs in the real world tells a different story. Even though EV ownership saw a slight uptick, more people now resolutely say that they’ll never buy one. A Gallup Poll from March revealed that since 2023, EV ownership only increased to 7% from 4%, while a hefty 48% said no thanks to ever parking an EV in their garage.
Biden doles out billions of taxpayer dollars to help unionized auto plants make EVs https://t.co/LtfB81Th9K pic.twitter.com/uDUmrqBwaq
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) July 11, 2024
While the administration projects rosy outcomes, including retrofitting plants to manufacture 1 million more electric light-duty vehicles and 40,000 electrified trucks and buses annually, the reality is more electric mirage than magic. Big companies like GM, Fiat-Chrysler, and Volvo, as well as suppliers like American Auto Parts, are lined up to pocket these grants. For them, it’s Christmas in October.
Biden is pushing automakers to jump on the EV express through tax incentives, expanding charging stations, and tightening regulations on emissions. Trump, ever the counter-puncher, decries this as disastrous for union workers in states pivotal to any election. Trump’s car choice mantra has resonated with many Americans who believe in the freedom to choose their own ride.
In the end, the Biden administration promises these grants will fortify the American auto industry and save union jobs. Yet, as the electric fog clears, it’s evident: this may just be another attempt to corral votes under the guise of a green utopia.
