Posted on March 14, 2024
Hartford, Conn. – State Representative Patrick Callahan (R-New Fairfield) testified before the General Assembly’s Transportation Committee on Wednesday. He spoke against HB 5485, An Act Concerning Transportation Infrastructure for Electric Vehicles.
“EV’s have been a frequent topic over the past several months in Connecticut. I am thankful that the Regulations Review Committee, the Governor, and our legislative body will not be pushing an EV mandate this session. Smart move, as an EV mandate is extremely unpopular with state residents. I have read this bill and it doesn’t appear at this point to be recommending an EV mandate, but rather creating a “roadmap” which seems to be more of a mandate by proxy,” said Callahan.
Callahan expressed concern that the proposal is loaded with taxpayer funded incentives to push Connecticut drivers into EVs.
“The problem with this is it is taxpayer money that comes from our residents, and it will eventually dry up, and then what. Eventually you run out of other people’s money,” noted Callahan.
Callahan reminded members of the committee that the state’s electric supply and distribution network to power charging for EVs will increase demand, and further drive up the cost of electricity. He also discussed the massive diesel machines needed to mine and refine Lithium, Cobalt, Graphite, and other minerals.
“We’re moving the emissions from tailpipe to smokestack. Just because you don’t see it out your kitchen window doesn’t mean the environmental impact to put these vehicles on the road isn’t happening. As the demand for minerals continues to increase, the concentration of ore in the materials mined is rapidly decreasing making it more expensive. Most of this is done in China, not exactly a friend to the U.S.A., and not done in an ethical manner,” said Callahan.
Callahan expressed concerns that the Council created in this bill, if passed as is, is not necessarily tasked with considering heavier weight of electric vehicles, which can quickly degrade roads and bridges.
“There are other types of clean vehicle technologies being developed. We’re not taking into account hydrogen and fuel cells and instead putting all of our eggs in the electric basket. If we’re going to spend all this money on infrastructure, we better be right. I know we have to follow either the EPA emissions standards or California’s and we don’t have a choice, I’m concerned with the choices we have,” concluded Callahan.