Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has set an ambitious goal of having one million electric vehicles on the state’s roads within the next six years. However, a new public service campaign is now criticizing his party’s electric vehicle agenda.
The American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) has launched an ad campaign titled “Driver’s Seat,” which highlights Vice President Kamala Harris’ support for a 100% ban on sales of new gas cars in the U.S. This campaign is part of AFPM’s broader, eight-figure initiative to educate Americans and provide them with opportunities to voice their opposition to gas car bans and EV mandates directly to their elected officials and policymakers.
“Americans deserve to know exactly where the vice president stands and whether the Harris administration will correct or double down on policies like the EPA’s regulation, which will effectively ban most new gas cars by 2032,” said AFPM CEO Chet Thompson. “In the meantime, Congress must act swiftly to overturn this EPA regulation and protect consumer choice.”
The Illinois Corn Growers Association has joined AFPM and a coalition of agricultural and oil industry representatives in suing the Environmental Protection Agency, arguing that its electrification mandate is inequitable and costly. The lawsuit contends that the rule’s astronomical price tag requires congressional authorization.
Dave Loos, the Illinois Corn Growers’ Director of Biofuels and Research, expressed concern over another requirement that up to 56% of all car sales be electric between 2030 and 2032, calling it unrealistic.
“That’s very, very concerning to us as producers, but it is also concerning for one, we lose these bushels, two, we lose that demand for ethanol, but three, it really takes away options for the consumers,” said Loos.
Illinois has been offering incentives to EV-related companies to relocate or expand in the state. However, electric bus maker Lion Electric, which received nearly $50 million in incentives from Illinois, recently laid off hundreds of workers.
According to the Illinois Secretary of State’s Office, just over 111,000 EVs are currently registered in Illinois.
