I strongly support the proposal to further limit the cap for electric power plants' ability to burn fossil fuels for the following reasons:

- There is a severe need for greenhouse gas reductions as the projections for climate change worsen

- Cap and trade programs are neessary to incentivize innovation for renewable energy

- Cap and trade programs, and continuously tightening such programs, have historically led to desired results of healthier populations and environments very efficiently, as was observed with the cap and trade program for sulfate emissions in the 1990's

- Virginians are already suffering from climate change costs including: sea level rise on the eastern shore that is ruining croplands with increased salinity, and shifting precipitation patterns that are increasing annual rainfall and causing increased nutrient runoff into the Chesapeake Bay and subsequently increased eutrophication. Those are just a couple of examples of the harmful effects being experienced in Virginia, and we have a responsibility as Virginians to prevent this situation from increasing in severity to protect our neighbors and the economic capacity of the state.