Dear State Air Pollution Control Board,

I am a Virginia resident and I oppose this illegal attempt by the Governor to withdraw Virginia from its participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which was enacted by the General Assembly.

This executive order does not propose any substitute mechanism for Virginia to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change. Nor does the executive order provide any substitute funding mechanism to a) provide flooding protection from sea level rise and extreme precipitation events due to climate change, or b) fund low-income home weatherization and energy efficiency improvements. 

As an Alexandria resident, my family - and many other households in the city as well as many of its businesses and cultural heritage landmarks - are benefitting from the $3.2 million in funding provided by RGGI for the City of Alexandria to begin planning for and mitigating sea level rise along our waterfront due to climate change. Many other communities in Virginia likewise need the RGGI funds to prevent catastrophic impacts of climate change. 

RGGI also rightly forces polluters to take responsibility through a market-based allowance system. The Youngkin administration should address Dominion's high utility bills through monopoly utility rate reforms, not by abandoning critical programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower future global warming, and adapt to the effects of climate change that are already unavoidable. 

Thank you,

Bill Pugh

Alexandria, VA 22302