I find it difficult to understand how the Republican Party can ignore the science concerning climate change and the current impacts to our planet and our state. Extreme temperatures world wide, wild fires destroying thousands of acres, melting of the polar caps, severe flooding in western Virginia and severe droughts are evidence enough for the average person. So because of politics our current Governor would condemn future generations to even higher temperatures, more severe storms and hurricanes, more coastal and inland flooding and more severe droughts just so he can check off a box from one of his campaign promises. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is a perfect example of holding the companies responsible for their inaction in cleaning up air pollution and should be expanded, not eliminated. RGGI has brought into Virginia $452 million for community flood projects and energy efficiency for low income Virginia residents. Without RGGI, there will be no Community Flood Preparedness Program. The rural counties in Virginia need this program in order to protect their citizens from inland water flooding.

The Governor thinks that he can stack the Air Pollution Board with his fossil fuel allies in order to remove Virginia from RGGI. It is unfortunate that this Governor thinks that polluters in Virginia are more important than the health of the state’s citizens. I strongly urge the Air Pollution Board to look at the facts and not base any decisions on an anti-environment Governor’s whim.