CODE RED: Air Pollution Board Votes to Repeal Carbon Reduction Law
Virginia legislators, including Del Sullivan (left) and Sen Hashmi (right), defend Virginia’s participation in RGGI outside of the Air Pollution Board’s meeting.
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL BOARD VOTES TO WITHDRAW FROM RGGI
On Wednesday, the Air Board voted to repeal Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) in a 4 to 3 vote. In voting to remove Virginia from RGGI, the Virginia Air Board signals their priority to the Youngkin political agenda over the needs of vulnerable Virginians.
The Air Pollution Control Board’s role is to protect air quality, yet the vote rejects a law that reduces carbon pollution. To make matters worse, the vote occurred on a Code Red Air Quality Alert day in Virginia due to the Canadian wildfires fueled by climate change.
RGGI is a widely-supported popular program. RGGI serves as a regional carbon market that caps overall carbon emissions from fossil fuel power plants. The program funds desperately needed flood resilience efforts for communities and energy efficiency upgrades for low-income homes. In its first year, RGGI raised over half a billion dollars for Virginia’s vulnerable communities.
The Air Pollution Control Board listens to Senator Ghazala Hashmi’s comments at a public hearing.
WHAT’S NEXT FOR RGGI?
The Air Board’s proposal to withdraw Virginia’s participation in RGGI will go through an executive review process before being published in Virginia’s register. Partners and constituents will continue to fight to keep Virginia as a full participant of RGGI using every tool in our toolbox.
Wetlands Watch provides a timeline of Youngkin’s (illegal) RGGI repeal process.
Statements from the Conservation Community
“Rather than acknowledging that Virginia’s participation in RGGI is required by law and is working as designed, this Administration has pushed forward with an ideological battle. We will continue fighting for Virginian communities impacted by climate change—which is all of us—and especially the most vulnerable communities, who have been benefiting the most from Virginia’s participation in RGGI.” – Peter Anderson, Virginia Policy Director
“Repealing RGGI will set back efforts to protect Virginia homes and businesses from flooding and slow down work to restore our rivers and streams. In just a few short years, RGGI is already working across Virginia to defend communities from flooding while reducing pollution to our air and water. Investment from RGGI is prioritized to nature-based projects that also filter pollution and create wildlife habitat.
Participation in RGGI is more important than ever as climate change adds new challenges to Chesapeake Bay restoration. About one-third of the nitrogen pollution in the Chesapeake Bay comes from air pollution that eventually falls to the ground or water. Over time RGGI reduces the air pollution from power plants, which also reduces pollution to Virginia’s waterways. We are disappointed and considering all possible options for next steps.” – Jay Ford, Virginia Policy and Grassroots Advisor
“Any administrative action by Governor Glenn Youngkin to end Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is an illegal attempt to circumvent the legislative branch. RGGI is law. RGGI has been a universal success because while lowering pollution rates, it also helps Virginians save on their energy bills. RGGI is a political win-win for Virginia, and yet, we’re seeing a Governor who is putting his national ambitions before creating a cleaner, safer future for our commonwealth. Thankfully, election season is around the corner, because accountability for this anti-climate governor is sorely needed.” – Blair St. Ledger-Olson, Legislative Director
Environment Virginia
“The decision by Virginia’s Air Pollution Control Board to repeal this successful program is vexing, given the pollution filling Virginia’s skies right now. Global warming affects every American, and beyond the unprecedented wildfire smoke smothering Virginia, our state is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise and extreme weather. This misguided decision pushes Virginia back a step as we try to make progress against climate change. The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative has been one of our best tools to lower carbon emissions and is a large source of funding for energy efficiency and climate resiliency projects for the Commonwealth. We urge Virginia leaders to reconsider what’s best for the future of our state.” – Elly Boehmer, Environment Virginia State Director
“The public has spoken and the success of RGGI is well documented. Growing jobs in the clean energy economy, reducing pollution that harms human health and the environment, and investing in workers and local communities has substantial benefits. It is time that Governor Youngkin and the Air Pollution Board listens to the will of the people and provides for their future.” – Mandy Warner, Virginia Director
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
“RGGI has helped low-income households lower their utility bills by boosting energy efficiency, funded 98 flood prevention projects throughout the state, and cut carbon emissions from power plants. Why would Governor Youngkin want to kill RGGI? He’s proposed no alternative.” – Scott Peterson, Vice Chair
Generation180
“As a part of RGGI, Virginia has been leading on clean energy and reaping the many benefits of new clean energy jobs, lower air pollution, millions of dollars in revenue being used to help protect vulnerable communities, health benefits, and more. By voting to repeal our participation in RGGI, members of the Virginia Air Board—the majority of whom have fossil fuel interests—are choosing their financial and political interests over what is best for Virginians.
Nearly 100% of the 6,600 comments sent to the air board were in favor of remaining in RGGI— making this decision clearly not what the public supports. The Air Pollution Control Board and the Youngkin administration need to listen to Virginians who, overwhelmingly, have made it clear that they want a clean energy future.” – Wendy Philleo, Executive Director
“It’s now hurricane season in Virginia, with emergency flooding steadily on the rise across the state. And RGGI is the only source of statewide funding in Virginia dedicated to local flood protections, having allocated over $200 million to finance nearly 100 flood projects in Virginia. Yet Governor Youngkin wants to play a reckless political game with people’s homes and lives, while proposing zero climate solutions of his own.
Our courts will knock this unlawful action down: Governor Youngkin simply has no legal right to unilaterally change state law without the legislature. This is how the system works: we have three branches of state government, and the RGGI law passed through those three branches already. The courts struck down a previous attack on RGGI before, and they will do so again. This will be a test for our democracy, and democracy will win.” – Walton Shepherd, Virginia Policy Director
Piedmont Environmental Council
“At a time when rapid expansion of data centers is creating explosive increases in energy use as confirmed by the recently published Integrated Resource Plan by Dominion Virginia, it is even more critical for Virginia to be a member of this regional market-based CO2 cap. Since its inception in 2005, RGGI has effectively decreased CO2 emissions from sources in member states by 50% and generated $590M in funding for local communities in Virginia, which has helped to support sustainability and climate resiliency initiatives, including energy-efficient affordable housing and flood management planning.” – Ashish Kapoor, Senior Energy and Climate Policy Analyst
”This vote by the Air Board does not reflect the position of the majority of Virginians, though it is consistent with our seeming determination to deny the obvious reality of climate change. We are one of eight states with no on-shore wind farms, though every neighboring state except Kentucky has them. West Virginia has seven, with number eight “in the oven.” Utility-scale solar has grown impressively in the last seven years, though all are east of Appalachia. We are electing the wrong people, and paying the price.” – Dan Crawford, Chair
Sierra Club Virginia Group
“The Air Board’s vote reflects Governor Youngkin’s desire to abandon common-sense, people-first policy. Repealing RGGI eliminates critical funding for vulnerable communities and cancels vital protections from pollution that’s making us sick and robbing us of a livable future. Virginians deserve a Governor who will act in accordance with the law, with science, and basic principles of justice and fairness, but this RGGI vote proves that Youngkin has no interest in any of those.”
“This is a disappointing day. With this action, the administration has decided it would rather circumvent the law than listen to the General Assembly and the clear voice of Virginians who know RGGI is working.” – Nate Benforado, Senior Attorney
Virginia Interfaith Power & Light
“The Air Pollution Control Board’s action today suggests that Virginia is willing to abdicate its role as a climate leader in the southeast. Participation in RGGI set Virginia on track to drastically reduce pollution emissions from energy production and demand through energy efficiency project investments for our neighbors from auction proceeds. Ultimately, we remain convinced that RGGI is the law.” – Faith Harris, Executive Director
Virginia League of Conservation Voters
“Today’s vote by Governor Youngkin’s rigged Air Board is a blatant end-run around the legislature and a handout to big polluters at the expense of Virginia communities that are now on their own to combat dangerous flooding. This shortsighted repeal effort will also lead to a heavier energy burden for vulnerable Virginians already struggling with household costs. If Youngkin spent half the time doing the right thing for his constituents that he does trying to grab national attention, he might have noticed that Virginians overwhelmingly support climate action and want to see us stay in this vital program that’s already yielding results for our Commonwealth.” – Michael Town, Executive Director
Wetlands Watch
“Ironically, this disappointing decision comes on the day of another RGGI auction that will deliver tens of millions of dollars more to meet our flooding resilience needs. Were this decision to stand, Virginia would lose the only assured source of flood funding we’ve ever had. But remember, the General Assembly established our membership in RGGI and only they can take us out.” – Skip Stiles, Executive Director