I'm writing against the proposed regulation by the Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board that would repeal Virginia's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). That proposed regulation was requested by Governor Youngkin.

It was a much needed catching up when Virginia finally joined 10 neighboring states in the successful program that has cut planet-warming pollution from power plants in half since its inception. Through RGGI’s innovative cap-and-trade auction system, electric power plants are switching from dirty coal and natural gas to clean, renewable power from low-cost solar and wind.

In the nine quarterly auctions since our state passed a law to join the regional initiative, RGGI has generated $590 million to invest in energy efficiency for low-income Virginians and flood preparedness for communities across the Commonwealth. RGGI is working! 

The Governor has been unable to overturn the law and has proposed no substitute funding. Yet he’s attempting this unlawful maneuver using an agency he controls to repeal our participation in RGGI. 

We shall not return to the old sin that contributed to global warming without constraints. Virginia's cleaner and greener future depends on our current actions and investments to move to clean, renewable energy. Virginia must stay in RGGI!