Feenstra Renews Call for COST Act After Biden Signs Executive Order Mandating Zero-Emission Government Vehicle Fleet

Washington, D.C. - December 10, 2021 - (The Ponder News) -- On Wednesday, President Biden signed an executive order that bars federal agencies from buying liquid fuel vehicles by 2035, including a transition to all electric vehicles for government-owned passenger cars by 2027. Following the signing of this executive order, Rep. Randy Feenstra (IA-04) released the following statement renewing his call for Congress to pass his Comparison of Sustainable Transportation (COST) Act:

“President Biden’s obsession with electric vehicles isn’t based on facts. Producing batteries for these vehicles, on top of the coal-generated power needed to charge them, requires a significant amount of money, energy, and nonrenewable resources. This is a rhetoric-driven decision that completely ignores the positive role biofuels play in reducing costs and emissions.

“In light of this announcement, Congress should immediately consider my COST Act to compare the full financial and environmental impact of choosing electric vehicles over E85 flex-fuel vehicles. Simply put, the Biden administration should not be so quick to jump to electric vehicles when E85 flex-fuel could provide an even cheaper and cleaner option.”

Biden’s executive order comes after the administration dealt a serious blow to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which Feenstra referred to as the “absolute height of hypocrisy” given the administration’s focus on climate change and gas prices.

The COST Act directs the Comptroller General and the Secretary of Energy to compare the financial and environmental costs of replacing federal government gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles or E85 capable flex-fuel vehicles. The bill then requires the Secretary of Energy to report findings to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.