They Tried to Take Away His Rights, He’s Not Letting It Happen 

From improving aircraft systems in the Air Force to volunteering in museums across his home state of New Mexico, James has spent his life giving back to his community. 

But in recent years, he’s taken on a new role to help his neighbors: advocating for realistic, reliable energy policy. 

As a member of the grassroots advocacy group Energy Citizens, James has raised his voice against electric vehicle mandates that overlook the realities many Americans face. He believes in standing up for choice, affordability, and the energy industry that helps power many public services Americans rely on every day 

“We’re not fully prepared for a widespread transition to electric vehicles. EV mandates simply aren’t realistic. Energy Citizens gives me a voice to stand up for consumer choice and advocate for practical, reliable energy solutions,” says James. 

James, an Energy Citizen from New Mexico, is working to support his community by protecting America’s oil and natural gas industry. 

James is among thousands of Energy Citizens pushing back against electric vehicle mandates, including California’s Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) rule, which threatened to spread nationwide. This policy would have effectively mandated electric vehicle adoption by banning the sale of new gas-powered cars in several states. 

Due to Energy Citizens who spoke out the policy was successfully challenged before implementation. 

“If Energy Citizens wasn’t around, everyday people like me wouldn’t have a strong voice in the energy conversation. We’d see more unrealistic mandates, like forced electric vehicle transitions that don’t take into account real-world challenges,” says James. 

Whether it’s writing letters, talking to friends, or contacting his elected officials, James is proud to be part of a community that’s making a difference. 

“The entire world depends on oil and natural gas—not just economically, but also for the production of countless everyday products,” he says.