Bill of the Day: Rejoining RGGI
Sunset at Copper Ridge Castlewood, VA. Photo by Heather Justice.
Why Rejoining RGGI Matters
In 2020, Virginia passed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act, allowing the commonwealth to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced ‘reggie’) and establishing the Virginia Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). RGGI is a market-based program with 11 participating states that generates new funds while reducing electricity sector emissions. This pollution reduction program drives down greenhouse gas emissions, which improves air quality and public health while also bringing in desperately needed revenue to help Virginia’s families with energy bills and flood protection.
RGGI raised more than $800 million from polluters to protect communities from flooding and cut Virginians’ energy bills in the 3 years Virginia participated in the program. It’s time for legislators to put Virginia back on track to cut pollution, lower energy bills, and keep Virginians safe from extreme weather.
Virginia is leaving hundreds of millions of dollars on the table since Virginia stopped participating in RGGI on December 31, 2023. You can take a deeper dive into RGGI in Our Common Agenda. To learn more, read our “Rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative” policy paper.
Rejoining RGGI in the General Assembly
Legislators have introduced bills that would make Virginia’s participation in RGGI statutorily required:
(Senator Mamie Locke): This bill clarifies, but does not substantively change, existing law to make clear that Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is statutorily required. Companion HB397
(Delegate Charniele Herring): This bill clarifies, but does not substantively change, existing law to make clear that Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is statutorily required. Companion to SB802
PASSED: Budget Item 365 #1s (HB29) Requires all agencies take actions necessary for the Commonwealth to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.