A recent letter to the editor objected to the proposal to adopt better air-pollution controls to protect the health of our children and grandchildren. The proposal being considered is to follow the lead of California and other states to phase out the sale of new gasoline and diesel-light duty vehicles over the next decade. By 2035, Delaware citizens could only buy new zero-emission vehicles, the best air-pollution control there is. We can also keep our older polluting gas or diesel vehicles, or buy used pre-2035 vehicles.
What is objectionable about that letter opposing electric vehicles is that this proposal is called un-American. It seems that too often people are calling anything they do not like un-American. Many polls show that clean air has been supported by Americans for decades, by wide margins and by all political persuasions. Clean air controls, like catalytic converters, have been mandated and we all enjoy the result: healthier air and saved lives.
What is more pro-American than using American energy (almost 100% of our electricity is home grown, with a bit of hydro imported from Canada) to power our vehicles? By contrast, we are importing about half of our oil consumption to run our cars and trucks. These are imports that hurt our balance of trade and put money in the pockets of oil dictators, such as Putin in Russia and Prince MBS in Saudi Arabia. We should be buying less gasoline, as fast as we can, to reduce the money going to these thugs while we help to reduce climate change pollution at the same time.
The Chinese are ahead of us in the race to EVs. It's time to put the pedal to the metal.
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