Biden announces plan for half of vehicles sold in the U.S. to be electric by 2030

I've been writing a lot about the problems caused by climate change lately but not much about the solutions other than letting the Global Footprint Network describe them as part of Earth Overshoot Day. One of those solutions was driving an electric car. Yesterday, President Joe Biden issued an executive order to encourage auto companies to build enough of them that half of the cars sold in 2030 would be electric. CNBC covered the announcement in President Joe Biden: There's no reason we can't reclaim EV leadership.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks at the White House on the need for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure, as well as the jobs such an initiative could create.

In addition to acknowledging the Michigan delegation, President Biden gave a brief, for him, eulogy for Carl Levin. He would have enjoyed today. Also, President Biden seems genuinely enthusiastic about driving the first electric Corvette. I'm sure he'll be wearing his aviator sunglasses when he does.

Before the announcement, CNBC interviewed Secretary Pete Buttigieg on White House's plan to get EVs to 50% of auto sales by 2030.

President Biden has signed an executive order targeting 2030 as the year when 50 percent of the vehicles sold in the U.S. will be electric. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg joins 'Squawk Box' to breakdown the policy.

I'm glad to see him as Secretary Pete, not just Mayor Pete.

Follow over the jump for analysis of this announcement.

PBS NewsHour reported and then analyzed the action in Why the White House is pushing for more electric vehicles.

Gasoline-powered vehicles are the biggest source of emissions from the U.S., accounting for more than a quarter of emissions. But Thursday, President Biden laid out new rules, agreements and timelines to try to cut that percentage down significantly. Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund, and Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign, join Amna Nawaz to discuss.

Fred Krupp is taking this the same way I am, that it's a step in the right direction, while Dan Becker thinks it isn't enough of a step, while at the same time wondering if that step will ever be completed. Those are legitimate worries, but I'll take the good news. At least PBS didn't have someone on who thought this went too far. I'm no longer interested in that debate.

ABC News covered this story as well and tied it to infrastructure in Biden signs order to curb greenhouse gas emissions by transitioning to electric cars. The infrastructure bill may be a success of bipartisan cooperation, but a disappointment for clean energy.

Plus, the Department of Justice launches an investigation into the Phoenix Police Department and the White House fires back at Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over COVID precautions.

Like CBS News did in the voting rights clips I shared yesterday, ABC News couldn't resist talking about the latest wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas and Florida. Right now, the two states account for a third of all new cases in the U.S. At least they transitioned between electric cars and the pandemic by discussing an investigation into the Phoenix police department in between.

Since this is a metro Detroit based blog, I'm closing with WXYZ's How Biden's electric vehicles announcement may affect metro Detroit.

In tonight's 7 UpFront segment we're taking a look at how President Biden's electric vehicle announcement today could impact the people in metro Detroit. We're being joined by DTE Energy's Director of Electrification Ben Burns to talk about it.

Here's to this policy having a positive impact on the environment, the auto industry, and metro Detroit.