The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is sound public policy that is helping to achieve it goals of reducing pollution and helping communities and individuals deal with many of the catastrophic consequences of climate change. The fees that are assessed on polluters encourage the companies/individuals to take steps to reduce the pollution and thereby reduce the fees. Monies collected from the fees help communities take steps to mitigate future devastation. 

The City of Staunton suffered two separate flash flood events in August of 2020. Many downtown businesses, public buildings, and homes suffered significant damage. City infrastructure was damaged. Cars were destroyed. Well over $3 million in damages, little of which was covered by disaster funding. There has been a history of floods in the same area. Because of terrain and aging drainage systems, upgrades to address the problem will be expensive… RGGI funds would provide much needed assistance. Similar stories can be found across the Commonwealth. 

Reducing air pollution also has positive benefits of reducing asthma and other negative health consequences of breathing dirty air… along with savings in health care costs.

At any rate, participation is RGGI is currently the law and continued participation is clearly a legislative decision and not one that can be made by the governor acting alone or the unelected Air Pollution Control Board.