The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) provides a cost-effective way to reduce Virginia's greenhouse gas emissions, while providing both flexibility and a revenue stream to support necessary environmental actions and improvements.  Withdrawal at this point will lead to confusion, litigation, loss of flexibility for Virginia emitters, and disengagement with our neighboring states.  As the power grid becomes more and more integrated, and power generation sources become more varied and dispersed, it will be critically important to maintain this flexibility.

At a minimum, Virginia should remain a full participant while conducting a full-fledged environmental assessment, including a determination of impacts to Virginia's environment, effects on revenues, modeling of likely responses in the environment and energy sectors, and human health.

This is no time to go it alone.