US Farmers Not Persuaded on Fast Change to Electric Cars
2021-04-21
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1The United States might be about to make a large change: Away from cars that need gas to electric cars.
2However, biofuel companies and their supporters in Congress say "no."
3They want to increase the sales of gasoline with biofuels added, not leave it behind.
4President Joe Biden has proposed a plan that includes billions of dollars to pay for 500,000 electric car power stations.
5Money is also being spent to electrify public cars and repair the nation's electricity system.
6The plan seeks to copy moves in California and some other states to force the sale of electric cars.
7General Motors recently announced it would make only electric cars by 2035.
8Yet any move from gasoline or biofuel cars to electric ones would happen slowly in the U.S.
9That is because there are currently 279 million non-electric cars.
10Producers of biofuels says their products will be needed for a long time.
11The government's plan for electric cars comes as the U.S. works to reduce carbon emissions that are blamed for climate change.
12The Environmental Protection Agency says cars on the road make up a large share of U.S. gas emissions from transportation.
13The U.S. also wants to compete in the worldwide electric car market.
14LMC Automotive is a research company that follows the car industry.
15It predicts that more than 1 million electric cars will be sold in the U.S. in 2023.
16The company says that will rise to over 4 million by 2030.
17But that is less than one fourth of normal yearly new car sales.
18Electric cars are now less than 2 percent of new sales.
19A recent study from Harvard and Tufts universities found that ethanol gives off 46 percent less carbon than gasoline.
20Biofuel makers say it is important that the country has increased biofuel production.
21Geoff Cooper is head of the Renewable Fuels Association in St. Louis.
22He said using ethanol is an easy way to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change.
23Right now, normal gasoline is mixed with 10 percent ethanol.
24He wants that percentage changed to 15.
25He said that it will take many years for gas-powered cars to disappear from American roads.
26"Why not take steps now to reduce the carbon intensity of those liquid fuels?" Cooper said.
27Each year, U.S. refineries make more than 57 billion liters of ethanol and more than 5.7 billion liters of biodiesel.
28Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol and 30 percent of soybeans are used to make biodiesel.
29Iowa's two Republican U.S. senators consider the move to electric cars a threat to farmers, especially in Iowa.
30Senator Charles Grassley said last autumn that a plan by some democrats to end the sale of gas cars by 2035 would hurt Iowa.
31"This...would absolutely destroy Iowa's economy because it's so dependent on agriculture and agriculture is so dependent on biofuels," Grassley said.
32Iowa Senator Joni Ernst argues that the $7,500 tax reductions for Americans buying electric cars usually go to rich people in eastern and western states.
33She says the tax credits are helping an industry that hurts farmers.
34"I firmly believe Iowa taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill for millionaires to get a discount on luxury cars," Ernst says on her Senate website.
35Many farmers see the change to electric cars as a threat.
36They do not believe state and federal officials will protect rural economies.
37"It's like you're almost helpless," said Ed Wiederstein.
38He is a partly-retired farmer near Audubon in western Iowa.
39Over time, a move to electric vehicles likely will force farmers to plant other crops, said Chad Hart.
40He is an agriculture economist at Iowa State University.
41"Agriculture is always shifting the crop mix to fit whatever markets offer the best opportunity," he said.
42I'm Susan Shand.
1The United States might be about to make a large change: Away from cars that need gas to electric cars. However, biofuel companies and their supporters in Congress say "no." They want to increase the sales of gasoline with biofuels added, not leave it behind. 2President Joe Biden has proposed a plan that includes billions of dollars to pay for 500,000 electric car power stations. Money is also being spent to electrify public cars and repair the nation's electricity system. The plan seeks to copy moves in California and some other states to force the sale of electric cars. General Motors recently announced it would make only electric cars by 2035. 3Yet any move from gasoline or biofuel cars to electric ones would happen slowly in the U.S. That is because there are currently 279 million non-electric cars. Producers of biofuels says their products will be needed for a long time. 4The government's plan for electric cars comes as the U.S. works to reduce carbon emissions that are blamed for climate change. The Environmental Protection Agency says cars on the road make up a large share of U.S. gas emissions from transportation. 5The U.S. also wants to compete in the worldwide electric car market. 6LMC Automotive is a research company that follows the car industry. It predicts that more than 1 million electric cars will be sold in the U.S. in 2023. The company says that will rise to over 4 million by 2030. But that is less than one fourth of normal yearly new car sales. Electric cars are now less than 2 percent of new sales. 7A recent study from Harvard and Tufts universities found that ethanol gives off 46 percent less carbon than gasoline. Biofuel makers say it is important that the country has increased biofuel production. 8Geoff Cooper is head of the Renewable Fuels Association in St. Louis. He said using ethanol is an easy way to reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. Right now, normal gasoline is mixed with 10 percent ethanol. He wants that percentage changed to 15. 9He said that it will take many years for gas-powered cars to disappear from American roads. 10"Why not take steps now to reduce the carbon intensity of those liquid fuels?" Cooper said. 11Each year, U.S. refineries make more than 57 billion liters of ethanol and more than 5.7 billion liters of biodiesel. Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. corn crop is used for ethanol and 30 percent of soybeans are used to make biodiesel. 12Iowa's two Republican U.S. senators consider the move to electric cars a threat to farmers, especially in Iowa. 13Senator Charles Grassley said last autumn that a plan by some democrats to end the sale of gas cars by 2035 would hurt Iowa. 14"This...would absolutely destroy Iowa's economy because it's so dependent on agriculture and agriculture is so dependent on biofuels," Grassley said. 15Iowa Senator Joni Ernst argues that the $7,500 tax reductions for Americans buying electric cars usually go to rich people in eastern and western states. She says the tax credits are helping an industry that hurts farmers. 16"I firmly believe Iowa taxpayers shouldn't be footing the bill for millionaires to get a discount on luxury cars," Ernst says on her Senate website. 17Many farmers see the change to electric cars as a threat. They do not believe state and federal officials will protect rural economies. 18"It's like you're almost helpless," said Ed Wiederstein. He is a partly-retired farmer near Audubon in western Iowa. 19Over time, a move to electric vehicles likely will force farmers to plant other crops, said Chad Hart. He is an agriculture economist at Iowa State University. 20"Agriculture is always shifting the crop mix to fit whatever markets offer the best opportunity," he said. 21I'm Susan Shand. 22The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 23___________________________________________________________ 24Words in This Story 25biofuel - n. a fuel made from biological material such as wood, ethanol or vegetable oil 26emissions - n. the act of producing or sending out energy or gas from a source 27ethanol - n. a form of alcohol 28refinery - n. a place where unwanted substances are removed from products like oil or sugar 29luxury - adj. something that is expensive and not necessary 30foot -v. (idiom) to pay for 31shift - v. to move or cause to move to a different position 32opportunity -n. a time or chance that something can be done 33We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page.