Virginia should stay in RGGI

I oppose the attempt to remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.  As quite senior citizens in our 70’s and 80’s, we are extremely concerned about how our climate is changing and what we can do to mitigate it.  At our home here in Charlottesville we have installed 24 solar panels on our roof and have put our 33 acres of forest in a conservation easement.  The solar panels provide a clean source of energy and all the trees (which are truly beautiful right now in October!) absorb and take out of our air some of the carbon dioxide that contributes to global warming.

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is another important tool to help us fight global warming.  It has so very many benefits for Virginia.  It does indeed work and reduces emissions so that there is less air pollution and better public health with fewer asthma attacks, premature births, and missed days of school and work.  Moreover, the funds generated by our participation in RGGI can be used to provide safe, affordable and energy-efficient homes to low-income families and can also be used to help localities plan for and prevent recurrent flooding.  I am so thankful that the law that we passed in 2020 mandates that Virginia participate in RGGI.

It truly is imperative that we stay in RGGI because we absolutely have to do everything we possibly can to mitigate global warming.  The havoc that it is causing to people that have to suffer through storms, flooding and fires is way too high and can be avoided if we are constant and unwavering in our battle against the rising temperatures.

LeRoy and Helen Ida Moyer

1863 Thomas Jefferson Parkway

Charlottesville, Virginia 22902-7520

E-mail:  duckyoaks@embarqmail.com

Phone:  434-293-5543