It is difficult for economists to accurately evaluate the costs and benefits of various climate change policies.  But, the US government has been using a measure called the “social cost of carbon,” currently set at $51 per ton of carbon emitted.  

It will be important for Virginians to know two things before asked to vote on RGGI:

1. Does the RGGI use the same metric as the federal government in their modeling?
2. What is the incremental average cost per household if Virginians fail to reduce emissions?

Ref: https://environment.yale.edu/news/article/social-cost-of-carbon-still-best-way-to-evaluate-climate-policy