Republicans Pull the Plug on California's EV Dream: Is This Chemistry or Just Bad Politics?

A Blow to the Ego... and the Environment?

Well well well... looks like someone's messing with my formula. The U.S. House of Representatives in their infinite wisdom decided to stick their noses where they don't belong. They've voted to block California's plan to end the sale of gasoline only vehicles by 2035. Apparently having cleaner air is too much to ask for these days. As if I needed more reasons to question authority right? It seems like a 'half measure' at best.

Biden's Green Light Gets the Red Light

This whole mess started with a waiver granted by the EPA under former President Biden allowing California to mandate at least 80% electric vehicles by 2035. Now these esteemed Congressmen have decided that California's plan is just not 'feasible'. You know just like cooking meth in an RV wasn't 'feasible' but look where that got me. Power. Respect. A hefty stash of cash. The point is 'feasible' is a state of mind. Or in this case a state of California.

Big Auto vs. The Golden State: A Recipe for Disaster?

The big automakers are all up in arms claiming these rules are impossible to meet. General Motors Toyota Volkswagen Hyundai... they're all crying about potential job losses and manufacturing fallout. You know it reminds me of Jesse complaining about cooking all night. 'Yeah Mr. White! This is heavy!' But hey someone's gotta do the dirty work right? And in this case the 'dirty work' is saving the planet one EV at a time.

Gavin Newsom: The 'Say My Name' of Green Energy?

California Governor Gavin Newsom is not backing down of course. He's calling this a power play by 'big polluters' and the 'right wing propaganda machine'. He even threw in a jab about competing with China on EVs. Honestly this whole thing is starting to sound like a turf war. Except instead of meth we're fighting over electric cars. And I for one am not about to let anyone mess with my territory.

40% of the Market? That's a Lotta Blue Sky...

California's not alone in this fight. Eleven other states including New York Massachusetts and Oregon have adopted these rules. Together they account for about 40% of the U.S. auto market. That's a significant chunk of change folks. It's like having a monopoly on the blue meth... I mean the clean energy market. And you know what happens when you have a monopoly right? You say my name.

This is my own private domicile and I will not be harrassed

One of the other issues is whether Congress even has the authority to revoke these waivers. Apparently the Government Accountability Office thinks they don't. Seems like these fellas in Washington should mind their own beeswax like I always told everyone to do. Remember when Skinny Pete or Badger tried to tell me what to do? I can't recall. Anyhow this could be a real game changer depending on how it all shakes out. Just like the DEA at my door in the last episode. Now I'm going to go cook up a solution to this mess. Who knows maybe I'll even invent a new kind of electric car. After all I am the one who knocks. Or in this case the one who drives... silently.