Having spent the majority of my adult life as a Virginian, I still keep track of issues back "home" even though I have moved to Florida. The RGGI is a huge mistake from every perspective—especially financial. Not only is there no "climate crisis" requiring abandonment of affordable sources of energy, the proposals in this plan would actually cause net damage the environment and have no measurable impact on the climate. The fact that nuclear power is all but ignored proves thus is not a serious proposal especially if one believes that increasing CO2 is somehow a problem.

The grotesquely slanted presentation of the climate change issue by the advocates of this Initiative completely ignore the life cycle costs and environmental impacts of wind and solar power. Even the most modern photovoltaic (PV) cells are relatively inefficient over their lifespans compared to other forms of energy. They also are not “sustainable” from the perspective that when they reach the end of their useful lives, they are for the most part not recyclable and have many toxic chemicals within them requiring special disposal. The opportunity cost of converting large tracts of otherwise useful land into solar farms is virtually ignored as well.

Wind farms have their own adverse environmental impacts that do not appear to have been weighed against the value of the power they generate. Aside from the unreliability of a system that depends on undependable wind, they too are not “sustainable” from the perspective that once they wear out, there is little that can be recycled. Although parts of the generators can be reused, once turbine blades wear out, they must typically be landfilled. Like solar, the net energy generated over their life cycle does not compare favorably with other forms of energy—especially fossil fuels. Wind turbines also have the unfortunate side effect of slaughtering birds and bats. Large raptors (some endangered) are particularly vulnerable to the fast-moving blades, the tips of which can travel much faster than the swiftest bird.

The RGGI makes little note of the positive effects of increased atmospheric CO2 such as increased plant growth and “greening” of previously arid areas.

The issue that will affect the residents of those to be afflicted by the RGGI the quickest will be cost. There will be huge economic impacts with nothing positive to show for it. Let the market decide. “All of the above” is the right answer for our increasing energy needs—and the government should not be putting its fingers on the scale.