Chinese EV battery maker shows new tech US consumers can’t buy
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Straight Arrow News
- California is suing the Trump administration for withholding $5 billion in funds for electric vehicle infrastructure.
- The lawsuit alleges the withheld funds will cost California over $300 million and hinder the electric vehicle industry.
- California leads the nation in zero-emission vehicle sales and has invested heavily in charging infrastructure.
California has filed a new lawsuit against the Trump Administration for withholding billions of dollars for electric vehicle infrastructure, which Gov. Gavin Newsom calls “Another Trump gift to China.”
California has commandeered a sort of leadership position in opposing the Trump administration.
Newsom, governor since 2018, leveraged this position for the state by imposing over 120 lawsuits against the presidential regime from 2017 to 2020, as reported by CalMatters.
The latest class action lawsuit, announced by Gov. Newsom’s office on May 7, is the 19th against the current administration this year. According to a press release, California filed the lawsuit along with 16 other states, accusing President Trump of “unlawfully” withholding funds that would reduce toxic pollution, expand access to clean vehicles, and create thousands of green jobs.
Why is California suing the Trump Administration?
According to the Gov. Newsom administration, the multistate lawsuit challenges actions taken by President Trump’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to thwart Congress’s $5 billion program to expand electric vehicle charging infrastructure that the president issued in an executive order on the first day of his administration.
The California governor states that the Trump administration’s “unlawful actions” would cost Californians more than $300 million and hobble a critical, emerging tech industry.
“Instead of hawking Teslas on the White House lawn,” Gov. Newsom said in the press release, “President Trump could actually help Elon — and the nation — by following the law and releasing this bipartisan funding.”
California Attorney General Bonta, who supports the lawsuit, agrees that President Trump “rolls back” environmental and climate change protections, “illegally stripping away” billions of dollars for electric vehicle charging infrastructure, with a hidden agenda to protect “Big Oil friends.”
What is California v. Vitol?
The California v. Vitol settlement resolved a lawsuit filed in 2020 by the California Department of Justice alleging Vitol and SK Energy Americas, Inc., along with its parent company SK Trading International, worked together to “manipulate spot market prices” for California gas.
This drove up the prices of gas, the Desert Sun reported, due to an explosion at a gasoline refinery in Torrance in 2015.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta urged eligible California residents to submit a claim for payment last year by calling 1-877-725-7523 or emailing peoplesinfo@calgaslitigation.com.
California is a nationwide leader in zero-emission vehicles
California is home to more than 30% of the new zero-emission vehicles sold in the U.S.
More than 178,000 public or shared private electric vehicle charging ports have been installed throughout California, plus more than 700,000 at-home charging ports.
According to Gov. Newsom’s office, the state is committed to deploying funds to ensure a reliable and easy-to-use charging network, which will keep up with the rise in electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid demand.
California incentivizes electric vehicles
California offers grants and rebates of thousands of dollars for low-income Californians to purchase electric vehicles through the Clean Cars 4 All program, including up to $7,500 in federal tax credit for purchasing zero-emission vehicles.
Recent efforts to reduce emissions from bigger vehicles include:
- More than $640 million is needed to deploy zero-emission truck and bus recharging and refueling infrastructure.
- $500 million to put another 1,000 ZEV school buses on the road.
- More than $1.3 billion for public transportation projects, including several supporting zero-emission buses.
Visit ElectricForAll.org to check for electric vehicle incentives in your area.
Local stances on electric vehicles
California Rep. Jay Obernolte says he is one of the leaders who oppose the mandate that everyone drive an electric vehicle.
He told the Daily Press last year that he supports people’s ability to choose the best car for themselves.
His Southern California district, District 23, averages over twice the price for residential electricity as neighboring states like Arizona and Nevada. Rep. Obernolte believes the cost of energy is driving the cost of living, which is driving people down a slippery slope into poverty.
He feels the solution is to “unleash the power of American energy production” in all of its different facets: solar and wind, but without allowing the cost of green energy to fall on the backs of working-class people.
McKenna is a reporter for the Daily Press. She can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com.
