Tennessee Governor Bill Lee was not among the 16 Republican governors who sent a letter to President Joe Biden demanding his administration drop its electric vehicle mandate that would force two-thirds of automobiles sold to be electric by 2032.
Republican Governors Association (RGA) revealed the letter on Monday, and it includes signatures from Republican governors representing four of Tennessee’s neighboring states, namely Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders of Arkansas, Governor Glenn Youngkin of Virginia, and Governor Mike Parson of Missouri.
Led by Sanders, who recently appeared at a Tennessee event to support Lee’s forthcoming school choice expansion, the Republican governors demanded Biden “allow American consumers to maintain choice in the types of vehicles they choose to drive” rather than “using government mandates to drive the vehicle market.”
“Your mandates are unrealistic, costly, and prescriptive solutions that harm American consumers,” the governors warned before requesting Biden remove his 2032 mandate “and instead provide a more realistic approach by allowing the free market to determine the direction and the timing for the industry’s growth rather than the federal government.”
Other nationally recognized Republican governors who signed the letter include Governor Kim Reynolds of Iowa, Governor Kristi Noem of South Dakota, and Governor Gregg Abbott of Texas.
Lee’s office did not respond to inquiries from The Tennessee Star that sought to ascertain whether he was invited to participate in the letter or if he supports the effort to persuade Biden to drop his electric vehicle mandate. His office likewise did not reply when asked for Lee’s current opinion on Biden’s mandate for two-thirds of new vehicles to be electric in just under eight years.
As the letter warned, American consumers appear to be slow to adopt electric vehicles.
Last month, about 4,000 car dealerships representing all 50 states signed and sent a letter to Biden warning that electric vehicles were “stacking up on our lots” with demand for them “stalled” among consumers and asking him to “slow down” his “regulations mandating electric battery vehicle production and distribution.”
“Last year, there was a lot of hope and hype about EVs. Early adopters formed an initial line and were ready to buy these vehicles as soon as we had them to sell,” the letter began, before declaring “that enthusiasm has stalled.”
The auto dealers explained, “Today, the supply of unsold BEVs is surging, as they are not selling nearly as fast as they are arriving at our dealerships – even with deep price cuts, manufacturer incentives, and generous government incentives.”
The also asked Biden “to tap the brakes on the unrealistic government electric vehicle mandate.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Bill Lee” by Milken Educator Awards.
Can’t we just say that Biden’s actions are totally in violation of our Constitution? Then everyone needs to just ignore them. EVERYONE. They can’t throw everyone in jail. But there must be MANY who will stand up to this tyranny, or it will succeed.
He can do what he wants bc he is in his last term. He doesnt need anyones vote anymore. He doesn’t have to answer to anyone. Frankly the Governor doesn’t Represent the People bc he is in the Executive Branch. His job is to execute or administer the laws passed by our State Legislators. The State House members Represent their Constituents. I’m not sure who the Senate answers to. My understanding is that Car Dealers can’t unload the EVs on their lots. It makes you scratch your head for sure.
I don’t want an EV. I sure don’t want to be forced to buy one. The only logical conclusion might be is Lee compromised? Does he own stock? Money is usually the evil behind these kind of decisions in the final term of a Governors time in office. It sure would be a problem if he wants to remain in politics. But after his term, he can go back to installing HVACs.
Rino Lee. Enough said.
Is Tennessee ready to increase the demand that EV will create on our electrical grid/supply?
TVA was unprepared for the demand of last week’s cold spell, sending out notices for all of us to turn down our heat. How will TVA supply the needs of EV demand as well as the increased demand due to population growth in our state?
~45% of TN’s electricity is produced by coal and natural gas … how is that better for the environment (even if we could keep up with demand) than gasoline?
{https://www.chooseenergy.com/data-center/electricity-sources-by-state/}
Gov Lee has been a BIG disappointment
Politicians generally do or don’t sign these types of letters for a reason. Not responding at this time or ever? Speculation about Lee’s support for Biden’s EV boondoggle might be fun, I would like to hear it straight from the horses mouth.
Because he has no spine?