First of all a 2020 law mandated that Virginia participate in RGGI.

RGGI works! RGGI reduces emissions. The Youngkin administration admitted as much in a recent report, concluding that RGGI “has a long track record of emission reductions since the beginning of the program.”

Without RGGI, Virginia’s emissions would not have not declined over the last decade and Virginia would not be able to achieve carbon free power by 2050 as set forth in the Virginia Clean Economy Act.

A significant benefit of participating in RGGI is improvement in public health. A decrease in air pollution means fewer asthma attacks, premature births, and missed days of school and work. In just 10 years, participating states realized $5.7 billion in public health benefits thanks to RGGI.

Virginias's participation provides safe, affordable and energy-efficient homes to low-income families in ways that were never possible before RGGI; provides dedicated funding to localities to plan for and prevent recurrent flooding as flood damage alone will cost the state $79.1 billion if left unchecked

The Youngkin administration needs to be for something that definitely benefits everyone in the state instead of being against it for unfounded political reasons.