Participation in RGGI has done much to make lives easier for the lowest income residents in Virginia, and has helped make Virginia attractive to businesses who want to come here.  If we pull out of RGGI, businesses that are interested in clean energy and equity will be less incentivized to come here.  

The stability and financing provided by RGGI helps attract investors to the state, bringing businesses and jobs here.  By maintaining our membership in RGGI, investors and energy workers will be comfortable that Virginia energy policies are going to be crafted and maintained with the best interests of the state in mind, and not changed with every new administration.  Investors want to see consistency and dependability in state policy, to be willing to invest – not rules and policies that change with every new administration.

RGGI overall has led to $1.9B in energy bill savings.  That is directly making life easier for the most vulnerable among us.  RGGI states are the leading states in energy efficiency, because of the RGGI-funded investments in energy efficiency.  This helps make us a state that makes the best use of our energy, making us more attractive as a state for both businesses and residents to settle in.  Both energy efficiency and clean energy measures in RGGI create jobs and boost the local economy.

As in the RGGI report at https://www.rggi.org/sites/default/files/Uploads/Proceeds/RGGI_Proceeds_Report_2020.pdf,RGGI investments have saved participants money on their energy bills, created jobs, and reduced carbon emissions.  RGGI investments benefit more than just those who directly participate in RGGI-funded programs. For example, money not spent on energy by families and businesses can be used in other ways that boost the economy. Reduced demand for energy also keeps power prices lower for everyone, and avoids investments in costly infrastructure to meet peak demand. 

See this article for more details on what a game-changer RGGI has been for low-income homeowners: https://www.virginiamercury.com/2022/08/25/rggi-funds-have-been-a-game-changer-for-many-low-income-homes/

Please, please, keep Virginia in RGGI to help us be the best state we can be!