After so many decades of delays in responding to the climate crisis, Virginians have been relieved and proud that state leaders enacted RGGI participation in 2020, showing not only wisdom about the very real crisis but also about how best to start meeting its challenges. 

RGGI is a law that is already working for us!  Since passage in 2020, RGGI has steadily brought down our power plant emissions, now 18% below the prior decade’s plateau. RGGI is providing dedicated funds for communities to do planning to prevent recurring flooding. To help low-income Virginians live in safe, energy-efficient homes, RGGI has the capacity to upgrade 130,000 of our homes by 2030, saving $676 per household. 

RGGI is crucial, and it’s benefits to our nation and to our state and its most vulnerable citizens are clear and documented. Importantly, RGGI has been state law since 2020 and is binding, even on a politically ambitious governor who is willing to ignore a law that represents our first meaningful steps to slow climate degradation and protect Virginians already suffering its impacts.  The illegality and immorality of his actions are self-evident. Please follow the law and what’s right and reject efforts to discard RGGI. 

Thank you.