In a fiery floor speech, Texas Representative Chip Roy delivered a scathing critique of Democratic policies promoting electric vehicles (EVs), questioning the logic behind their implementation and highlighting the potential consequences for American energy independence and the economy.
Roy’s remarks centered on what he described as a disconnect between the push for EVs and the realities of energy production.
“I’m always amazed with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle,” Roy stated, “Ignore the fact that these EVs require power. Somehow, they get charged from the magic fairy dust of a magic energy tree, I mean, what? What are we talking about here?”
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He emphasized the reliance on traditional energy sources, such as coal and natural gas, for electricity generation, both domestically and globally.
“How do you power up an electric vehicle? Burning coal, burning gas? The nuclear plants that we’re not actually permitting or building in the United States? While China builds two coal-fired plants virtually every week,” he asserted.
Roy argued that the current EV mandates are straining the American power grid and driving up energy costs for average Americans, while having a negligible impact on global CO2 emissions. He pointed to the rapid expansion of coal-fired power generation in countries like China and India.
Furthermore, Roy raised concerns about the ethical implications of EV battery production, citing reports of forced labor and child labor in the supply chain, particularly in China and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He referenced articles from The Guardian and other sources detailing these issues.
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“My colleagues love to ignore the slave labor in China to produce the batteries that they drive around in EVs while they pat themselves on the back and go to cocktail parties talking about how fantastic it is that they drive their EVs and how enlightened they are,” Roy stated.
He accused Democrats of pushing EV mandates without considering the practical challenges faced by American workers and families.
“They want to parade around EV mandates like they’re somehow going to magically create power out of thin air, ignoring the fact we’re empowering China. Ignore the fact we’re empowering Chinese labor or child laborers,” Roy said. He also argued that the shift away from traditional vehicles limits consumer choice and increases the cost of living.
“Take away the ability of an American citizen to be able to go out into the market and buy a hybrid vehicle or another vehicle they can use to travel long distances, do their job, whether they’re a plumber, whether they’re an electrician, whether they’re carrying goods and services in a truck,” he explained.
Roy concluded by attributing rising inflation to the Biden administration’s regulatory policies, including those related to energy. His speech underscored the growing partisan divide over energy policy and the transition to electric vehicles.
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Trump’s Coal Revival
Within the first months of his second administration, President Donald Trump has prioritized “unleashing” American energy and has already axed several of what he considers to be burdensome regulations on the coal industry, promising its “reinvigoration.”
Trump signed an executive order on April 8 to revive the coal industry, and shortly after moved to exempt several coal plants from Biden-era regulations. Though it has become a primary target of many climate activists, coal has been historically regarded as readily available and affordable, and several energy policy experts believe Trump has the cards necessary to strengthen the industry.
“When utility bills are skyrocketing or blackouts are happening in winter, people are going to want reliable power back,” Amy Cooke, co-founder and president of Always on Energy Research and the director of the Energy and Environmental Policy Center said. “The beauty of coal is that it allows for affordable, reliable power, which is absolutely crucial to economic prosperity, and in particular, innovation.”
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Following his executive order, Trump granted a two-year exemption for nearly 70 coal plants from a Biden-era rule on air pollution. The EPA said that the move would “bolster coal-fired electricity generation, ensuring that our nation’s grid is reliable, that electricity is affordable for the American people, and that EPA is helping to promote our nation’s energy security.”
Despite skepticism surrounding the economic viability of a coal industry revival, Trump and his administration argue that coal remains a vital component of the nation’s energy mix, particularly in ensuring baseload power.
“The American people need more energy, and the Department of Energy is helping to meet this demand by unleashing supply of affordable, reliable, secure energy sources – including coal,” Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright said.
Trump has also emphasized the job creation potential of a revitalized coal industry, stating that coal miners are “really well-deserving and great American patriots.”
The president’s policies, including the loosening of restrictions on coal plant construction, stand in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s focus on renewable energy and stringent climate regulations, highlighting a fundamental divergence in energy policy between the two administrations.
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