Governing for Impact, a group funded by George Soros, recently issued a memo to lawmakers advising the Biden administration that the Clean Air Act grants the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to “control or prohibit” the manufacturing and sale of gasoline, Fox News Digital reported.
GFI recommends utilizing the Clean Air Act
“The Clean Air Act provides the Environmental Protection Agency with a number of tools to reduce air pollution,” the memo read. “One powerful provision is Section 211(c), which authorizes the EPA to ‘control or prohibit’ the manufacture and sale of any motor vehicle fuel (or fuel additive) if resulting emissions will endanger public health or welfare (or impair emissions control devices).”
The memo, written by GFI and the climate group Evergreen Collaborative, argued that the EPA could force gas stations to establish electric vehicle charging stations on their properties.
“Under this authority, more stringent regulations on vehicle fuels — for example, requiring certain gas stations or national brands to install electric vehicle charging infrastructure — could both reduce deadly air pollution (such as nitrogen oxides and particulate matter) and incentivize the use of zero emissions transportation,” the memo added.
GFI and the Evergreen Collaborative claim that the memo aims to “empower advocates and policymakers” to cut vehicle emissions.
While the groups’ memo made a point to note that prohibiting gasoline is possible under the Clean Air Act, they recommended not issuing a complete ban. The memo stated that outright banning fuel would likely result in the Supreme Court striking down the decision “despite the clear text of the statute.”
What’s the background on GFI?
In a presentation and in internal memos, Governing for Impact boasts that the current administration has implemented more than 20 of its regulatory recommendations.
The secretive group, which was founded in 2019, was exposed by Fox News Digital in April. According to the outlet, GFI is a project of the New Venture Fund, a nonprofit incubator that acts as a “fiscal sponsor” and provides tax status to other organizations.
According to Fox News Digital, GFI has been working behind the scenes with the Biden administration to mold policies and regulations.
“As a fiscal sponsor, New Venture Fund provides operational and administrative support to help advocates and philanthropists quickly and efficiently launch new solutions to today’s toughest challenges,” New Venture Fund told Fox News Digital in April. “New Venture Fund explicitly does not engage in partisan activities or support any electoral campaigns, and we comply with all relevant disclosure laws and requirements.”
According to Soros’ Open Society Foundation grant database, the billionaire’s Foundation to Promote Open Society has sent more than $5 million to the New Venture Fund for GFI. In addition, Soros’ Open Society Policy Center also provided more than $7 million to GFI’s action fund.
The Capital Research Center’s Parker Thayer told Fox News Digital, “Governing for Impact hides in darkness, but evidence overwhelmingly shows they whisper in the ears of Biden Administration regulators.”
“The fact GFI now advises the government to issue draconian regulations that could enrich their largest donor, Mr. Soros, should anger Americans in both parties,” Thayer added.
GFI and Evergreen did not respond to a request for comment, Fox News Digital reported.