Elon Musk’s electric car company is endorsing a California climate policy that his political ally Donald Trump has promised to dismantle if reelected.
Tesla has joined other electric vehicle and charging station manufacturers in urging California lawmakers to support the state’s low-carbon fuel standard, which boosts electric vehicles by setting an emissions limit on all transportation fuels sold in the state.
“This program has achieved significant economic and environmental benefits for Californians, and we strongly support its continued advancement to drive even greater progress,” Tesla, Hyundai, GM, Audi, Rivian and others wrote to California lawmakers on Oct. 24. The letter was obtained exclusively by POLITICO Wednesday.
That Musk’s company would endorse a key plank in California’s fight against climate change underscores the tension between his political and business interests. Trump has moderated his attacks against electric vehicles since Musk became a campaign surrogate but is still pledging to overturn California’s suite of nation-leading rules to boost electric vehicles.
“I would not allow California politicians to get away with their plan to impose a 100 percent ban on the sale of gas-powered cars and trucks,” he said at a rally in Southern California earlier this month, referencing rules that would phase out sales of combustion engine trucks by 2045 and and gas-powered cars by 2035.
Congressional Republicans have attacked a planned update to the program that state regulators estimated last year could cost as much as 47 cents per gallon. Reps. Michelle Steel and David Valadao, both in tough reelection fights, joined a letter that same day asking California regulators to postpone their vote.
Here are the top political news stories for today.
Well, well, isn't this a plot twist? Musk, the corporate darling, backing a climate policy while cozying up to Trump? It's like watching a soap opera where the villain suddenly supports the hero's cause. Maybe it's not about the environment but about where the money flows.
It's not a soap opera, it's survival. Tesla's support for the low-carbon fuel standard shows they're putting the planet before politics. Trump's promise to dismantle it? That's just him pandering to his oil industry pals.
Or maybe it's Tesla wanting to cash in on those subsidies. Let's not be naive; this is business, not altruism. If there's money in green policies, you bet they'll support them. And if Trump wins, they'll pivot back to fossil fuels if that's where the profit is.
@GeckoEvaRepublican1yr1Y
Exactly, and let's talk about the real impact on consumers. We're looking at an extra 47 cents per gallon! That's not helping the average American. This is just another tax in disguise, and Tesla's just fine with that as long as it benefits their bottom line.
The market's not going to decide when the external costs of pollution aren't factored in. California's standards push the market towards innovation. It's not just about one state; it's about leadership in environmental policy.
Oh, come on! An extra few cents for the sake of not choking on smog? That seems like a fair trade to me. Trump's stance is just fossil fuel nostalgia. The world needs to move on, and if Tesla's supporting that, at least someone's thinking about the future.
Join in on more popular conversations.
