Governor Ralph Northam announced an Executive Order setting ambitious, statewide goals to reduce the Commonwealth’s carbon emissions and move the state’s electricity goal to 30% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2050.

The Virginia conservation community released the following statements:

“Climate change is the defining issue of our time, and we are at a defining moment. Today, Governor Northam issued Executive Order 43, which establishes a goal of getting to 100% carbon-free energy in the Commonwealth. Placing Virginia on this path to 100% is a critical step in redefining our energy future. 

“To achieve these laudable goals, the conservation community looks forward to working with the administration, the General Assembly, and the public to achieve these goals with the urgency our climate crisis demands.”

-Kristie Smith, Policy & Campaigns Manager

“Governor Northam’s announcement today shows real leadership on climate change in the face of its absence at the federal level. It’s time for this kind of cost effective, smart and modern solution to bring Virginia into the future. A key piece to addressing climate change is to convert our power sector to renewable energy. Today’s plan does that by complimenting Virginia’s regulation to directly reduce carbon emissions from coal and gas power plants with investment in clean energy in Virginia that will ensure efficient, in-state, low-cost electricity. The general assembly has so far thwarted any attempts to directly address climate change, which threatens Virginians from Hampton Roads to the Shenandoah Valley. We look forward to working with all lawmakers in the 2020 General Assembly session to see the wisdom of proposals that address climate change, reduce electric bills and grow jobs in Virginia.”

-Will Cleveland, Senior Attorney

“Voters are sick and tired of our legislature pandering to corporate polluters and blocking necessary action to address climate change and build a clean energy economy. Governor Northam’s Executive Order is a leap in the right direction. Next, we need to elect a legislature that won’t stand in the way of Virginia’s clean energy future and will help put a strong and just plan into action as a first order of business.

While we support the initiatives laid out in this order, we look forward to seeing more details in the final plan of action, especially in ensuring that Virginia creates a clean energy economy that’s inclusive and creates opportunities for every Virginian as we work to secure a carbon-free future.”

-Mike Town, Executive Director

“Governor Northam’s commitment to a 100% carbon-free energy future by 2050 and 30% renewable energy by 2030 is one of the most ambitious climate action goals in the South. We applaud his efforts to lead by example at the state agency level, address environmental justice, and his commitment to workforce development.

“But Northam’s order ignores the fracked-gas elephant in the room. If we are going to solve the climate crisis, we cannot continue supporting and investing in proposed fracked-gas pipelines like the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines. One place to start would be directing his Department of Environmental Quality to issue stop-work orders for those projects.

“Additionally, the Governor’s plan just doesn’t go far enough on climate. The world’s top scientists all agree that we must cut global carbon emissions in half by 2030 and Virginia must do its part. We plan to work with Governor Northam, the General Assembly, and the burgeoning grassroots climate movement in Virginia to craft a solution that matches the urgency of this crisis.”

-Harrison Wallace, Virginia Director

“Governor Northam is absolutely right that Virginia should be powered by 100% clean energy by 2050, and we commend the Administration for setting the target. The climate crisis is already here, impacting Virginia’s coast faster than anywhere in the eastern United States and low-income communities across the Commonwealth at a disproportionate rate.

“But the path to achieving a clean energy future is not through a utility monopoly whose profit model is built on expensive fossil fuel projects like the Atlantic Coast Pipeline. We need to unleash true innovation to power the Commonwealth with clean energy, which requires a rethink of how our energy market is structured. We must fix the perverse incentives of a monopoly system that rewards utilities like Dominion for unnecessary capital investment and inefficiencies in the grid, not for building the clean energy and energy efficiency resources we need. Achieving the ambitious goals in the Governor’s plan by continuing to allow Dominion Energy to set the terms of our energy future is trying to fit a square peg into a round hole.”

-Brennan Gilmore, Executive Director

“This announcement from the Northam administration underscores that Virginia must chart a course for a cleaner, healthier and more economically vibrant future. We’re pleased that Virginia is joining other states that have pledged to take serious action on climate. But current state policies and plans for new fracked-gas infrastructure like the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines directly contradict the executive order’s ambitious goals. 

“Achieving 100 percent carbon-free electricity requires reforming the law to remove barriers to distributed clean energy and ensure Virginians are not locked into paying for obsolete fossil fuel infrastructure. Virginia must enact policies that prioritize equity and environmental justice over profits for monopoly utilities, and that assist communities most impacted by the shifting energy economy.   

“We are committed to partnering with communities across Virginia and encouraging our elected leaders to stay on course.”

-Tom Cormons, Executive Director

“We commend the governor for setting goals today that will make Virginia a leader in fighting the climate crisis. Virginians have long demanded the benefits of transitioning to a clean energy economy and deserve a future free of fossil fuel pollution. To reach these goals in a way that benefits all Virginians, the state will need to increase energy efficiency and reject fracked-gas. Doing so will chart a path to create more good jobs, lower electric bills, and support healthier communities. Later this week, thousands of young people will march to send a powerful reminder to leaders, like state lawmakers who will be needed to see this plan through, that future generations are counting on them to make the right climate decisions.”

– Kate Addleson, Director

“Governor Northam’s leadership through Executive Order 43 to reduce carbon pollution is a vital step forward to achieving 100% clean energy in Virginia. His efforts to cut dangerous carbon pollution will decrease suffering and save lives.

“While we applaud these climate goals, it is imperative that they are achieved in a just manner and reduce the energy burden placed on lower income families. Virginia Interfaith Power & Light will continue to advocate that the administration addresses the historical environmental burden placed on communities of color and immediately stops any further expansion of fossil fuel energy development.”

-Kendyl Crawford, Director

Keep checking back for additional statements.