Chicago Tribune
The Midwest has long been a hub of transportation innovation, here at the nation’s crossroads, from the canal-builders of Ohio and railroad-track layers of Illinois to the car manufacturers of Michigan’s motor cities. Cars remain central to our transportation system, and we have designed our infrastructure around them. Still, our car dependence has also caused damage to public health and the environment, so the time has come to innovate again.
Transportation is a leading source of air pollution, including the smog and particulate matter that choke out our air and the carbon pollution that fuels climate change. By embracing new, clean technology and advancing the shift to electric vehicles of all kinds, we can reduce the impact of cars and light trucks on our environment even as we work to develop a sustainable transportation system for the long-term health and safety of our communities.
Gasoline-fueled cars worldwide are becoming more efficient, and federal regulations, under both the Obama and Biden administrations, have been pushing the automotive industry to adopt more fuel-efficient technologies. Under the 2012 Clean Car Standards, new cars, minivans, and pickups sold between 2017 and 2025 would continually improve by using less gasoline to travel a mile and emitting less carbon pollution out of the tailpipe. The Trump administration took us in the opposite direction for a brief period, reversing those advancements, which ELPC fought to uphold.
More recently, the Biden administration continued to toughen the standards for light and medium-duty vehicles for model years 2027 to 2032 to move us toward pollution-free vehicles, from cars to SUVs to pickups and delivery vans. EPA’s new strong standards will ensure new car buyers in those years will have increasingly cleaner choices that will save them money, cut oil demand, and lead to a safer climate and cleaner air for communities. ELPC testified at public hearings to support those stronger standards that move us in the right direction to protect the climate and avert the worst-case scientific assessments.
Additionally, ELPC testified in 2023 at public hearings in Washington, D.C., in support of the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards for model years 2027-2031 cars and light trucks, and for commercial pickup trucks and work vans sold in model years 2030-2035. While ELPC called for even tougher standards, we agreed any increase contributes to another critical step from the Biden administration to tackle the climate crisis and our reliance on oil.
EVs will help end our dependence on oil to fuel our transportation sector, and they will save drivers money in the long run because electricity is cheaper.
Electric vehicles are the clean cars we need today. These vehicles allow us to get where we need to go and reduce air and climate pollution, especially as we shift the electric grid towards more wind and solar energy. EVs will help end our dependence on oil to fuel our transportation sector and save drivers money in the long run because electricity is cheaper. To support the transition to an electric vehicle in the future, ELPC has focused on ensuring we have a comprehensive network of charging stations. While customers will do most of their charging at home, they want assurances that they can charge their cars in convenient public places and along highways. We are also working to implement discount rates that encourage charging at night. Our work includes testimony before public utility commissions, expert analysis, and regional advocacy. ELPC is a member of Charge Up Midwest, a regional coalition working to accelerate electric vehicle adoption, and we are a leader in supporting the transition to electric school buses to provide safe transportation for our children.
While we are years away from seeing only electric vehicles on our roads, ELPC is working hard to promote policies that move us in that direction. The Biden administration committed significant federal funding to implement a robust EV charging infrastructure on our highways, roads, and parking garages. ELPC is engaged in the effort to make that buildout equitable for all.
Cars are becoming smarter and more connected every year. With the introduction of self-driving cars, we can see a new era in mobility that transforms our very way of life. There is no doubt that automated vehicles will have an impact on our environment. AVs could increase miles traveled, increase energy consumption and sprawl, and make 100-mile commutes more common. Other concerns include pedestrian safety, congestion, and land use. ELPC is working to ensure national legislation for AVs will include a robust study of what AVs will mean for our environment, communities, and transportation systems. We are working with state and federal agencies on planning issues, urging them to carefully consider the potential greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental impacts that could result from AV deployment.