I am writing to voice my strong objection to Governor Youngkin’s proposal to take Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). First, The Governor has no authority to remove Virginia from the RGGI. The General Assembly voted to have Virginia join the RGGI, and only the General Assembly can act to remove Virginia from the RGGI.

Secondly, Virginia has benefited greatly from participating in the RGGI; it has already received $378 million to support low-income energy efficiency programs and flood resilience infrastructure in Virginia. This year southwest Virginia, where I live, had major floods in our mountain communities. If Virginia had not been in the RGGI, these communities would not have received the financial aid they so desperately needed to recover. Additionally, if Virginia does not invest in making flood-prone communities more resilient, it is estimated that flooding damages will cost the state $79.1 billion.

Thirdly, the data clearly shows that the RGGI works – states that are in the RGGI have reduced climate warming emissions much quicker than states that are not in the RGGI. If Virginia were to leave the RGGI, we will not be able to achieve carbon-free power by 2050 as set forth in the Virginia Clean Economy Act.