OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis blasted President Joe Biden and his administration on Sunday following reports that the White House was preparing an executive order to use the Defense Production Act in order to “bolster the manufacturing capacity of electric vehicle producers in particular.”
In a tweeted statement, the GOP governor noted that Biden had been “begging for oil from dictators” before addressing the potential use of the act for the sake of making more electric vehicles.
“After begging for oil from dictators, Biden is now using emergency war powers to produce batteries for the 1% that drive electric cars. Most Americans suffering due to high gas prices don’t have the luxury of spending $50k+ on an electric car. Unleash American energy today!” DeSantis wrote.
After begging for oil from dictators, Biden is now using emergency war powers to produce batteries for the 1% that drive electric cars.
Most Americans suffering due to high gas prices don’t have the luxury of spending $50k+ on an electric car.
Unleash American energy today!
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 27, 2022
“The DPA gives the president the authority to compel the private sector to work with the government to provide essential material goods needed for the national defense,” June Rhee, the director of Master of Management Studies in Systemic Risk at Yale University and senior editor for the Yale Program on Financial Stability (YPFS) and Aidan Lawson, a former YPFS research associate, said of the Defense Production Act.
Added the Military Times: “The Defense Production Act of 1950 was signed by President Harry S. Truman amid concerns about supplies and equipment during [the Korean War].”
Regarding DeSantis’ ‘begging for oil’ remark, CNN reported earlier this month that Biden administration officials had traveled to Venezuela “for talks on potentially allowing the country to sell its oil on the international market, helping to replace Russian fuel,” and added, “… a looming nuclear deal could bring significant volumes of Iranian oil back to the market.”
On Thursday, The Intercept noted: “The Biden administration is drafting an executive order invoking the Defense Production Act to alleviate shortages of key minerals needed for the technology to store clean energy. The act … would bolster the manufacturing capacity of electric vehicle producers in particular.”
As reported by The Daily Wire:
That report followed several hard-Left Democrat senators, including Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Cory Booker of New Jersey, and Jeff Merkley of Oregon publishing a letter they wrote Biden on Wednesday in which they urged him to utilize the Defense Production Act to “support and increase manufacturing capacity and supply chain security for technologies that reduce fossil fuel demand and fuel costs, such as electric heat pumps, efficient electric appliances, renewable energy generation and storage, and other clean technologies.”
The senators used the Russian invasion of Ukraine as an excuse for their request, writing, “We encourage you to examine all possible routes to support and deploy clean energy and energy-efficient electric technologies as part of our near-term domestic and international response to the economic upheaval caused by Russia’s war on Ukraine.”
“The draft order also plays into domestic priorities. Last week, Granholm and Sen. Joe Manchin also announced a lithium battery supply chain program in West Virginia, which mineral production and processing would support,” The Intercept added, noting further that Manchin represents the state.
“While I remain concerned about our dependence on China and other foreign countries for key parts of the lithium-ion battery supply chain, engaging our strong and capable workforce to manufacture batteries domestically is a critical step toward reducing our reliance on other countries and ensuring we are able to maintain our energy security,” Manchin said in a statement.
“I look forward to seeing this initiative grow, and we will continue to work closely together to ensure we can onshore the rest of the battery supply chain.”
