I think that the Virginia Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) has been a very favorable and effective initiative. I oppose Virginia withdrawing from it. It has significantly reduced emissions from the power sector. My understanding is it has reduced emissions more than 50%, twice as fast as the nation as a whole and has raised over $4 billion to invest in local communities. This reduction in emissions will aid in achieving the goals of the Virginia Clean Economy Act and the Federal Inflation Reduction Act. 

Much good has come out of the RGGI for Virginia. About 45% of its proceeds goes to energy efficiency project and 50% to community flood control. 

I am proud of the fact that a majority of Virginia citizens are concerned about global warming and therefore support regulating CO2 as a pollutant. (Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.) We are a smart and forward-thinking citizenry. Our politicians should be in tune with Virginia citizens and vote for not only staying in the RGGI but passing additional initiatives that will address the crisis we are facing with global warming and climate change. 

Withdrawing from the RGGI would be a grave mistake and would be bad for Virginian’s citizens.