Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley on Thursday questioned a Department of Energy (DOE) official about whether Biden's electric vehicle (EV) policy, which benefits China, is “good” for the United States.

Mr. Hawley criticized Deputy Energy Secretary David M. Turk during his speech. hearing The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee investigated which countries benefited from the Biden administration's EV push. In April, the Biden administration proposed regulations that would require up to two-thirds of new light vehicles sold in the U.S. from 2032 onwards to be electric vehicles. (Related article: 'We didn't have a vote': Climate expert slams Biden administration for ignoring voters to impose environmental policies)

“Let's talk a little bit about who is really benefiting from this administration's climate change policies and strict electric vehicle mandates,” Hawley said. “So, Mr. Turk, you have already alluded to this and I think you already know the answers to these questions. And that country is…”

clock:

Sen. Josh Hawley just delivered a knockout punch to Biden's environmental policies.

The Biden administration is paying China to produce electric cars and sell them to us.

Pure madness. pic.twitter.com/tYHjSRCRMT

— Daniel Turner (@DanielTurnerPTF) January 11, 2024

“China,” the Turk answered. Hawley then asked if Turk knew of any country that produced more than three-quarters of the world's lithium-ion batteries. “China,” the Turk answered again.

President Joe Biden signed the Curbing Inflation Act into law in August 2022 with $370 billion to fight climate change and green energy provisions, including a $7,500 tax credit for EVs. EV sales have not grown as much as manufacturers expected. , despite tax credits and other subsidies provided by the Biden administration.

“But your administration, this president's administration, the mandate that you have set requires that two-thirds of new car sales over the next eight years, two-thirds of them, be electric vehicles.” Hawley said. “Your policies drive us and our supply chains into the hands of our greatest geostrategic adversaries, enriching them and enriching their governments while giving Americans $7,000 more on average to buy electric cars. Traditional vehicles are more expensive to repair and insure, and everything from tires to components need to be replaced more frequently.”

China controls the majority of EV manufacturing, including more than half of the world's lithium refining capacity, 60% of battery cathode production, 75% of global battery cell production, and 75% of battery anode production. China also controls more than three-quarters of the Democratic Republic of Congo's cobalt mine production, which accounts for 70% of the world's cobalt supplies, the diplomat reported. report.

“So Mr. Turk, why is it good for American workers to force our supply chain onto our biggest rival and adversary?” Hawley asked.

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