ROUNDUP: Air Board’s (Unlawful) Vote to Repeal RGGI
Advocates demonstrate how leaders attempting to repeal RGGI disregard the needs of Virginia’s communities before the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board meeting.
It’s official – the State Air Pollution Control Board voted to begin the process of withdrawing Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. But, that isn’t to say they have the authority to make such a vote.
Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI, pronounced “reggie”) when the 2020 General Assembly passed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act. The program puts a price on polluters’ carbon emissions, and the revenue from their carbon pollution goes towards climate change mitigation projects: community flood resiliency and low-income energy efficiency programs. Over $350 million has already been raised to protect communities from flooding and lower home energy bills with home weatherization. To see all of the communities receiving RGGI funds, see the projects listed on VCN’s RGGI webpage.
There is Only One Way to (Legally) Repeal RGGI
Advocates silently protest the unlawful action to repeal RGGI at the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board meeting. Photo credit: Appalachian Voices
The Air Pollution Control Board voted to repeal RGGI despite overwhelming support for the program from Virginian voters. In fact, the public comment period leading up to the vote resulted in over 90% of comments vehemently opposing a repeal of RGGI.
Despite the disappointing vote by the body tasked with protecting Virginia’s air quality, the vote may not lead to anything. Virginia’s pollution reduction program is the result of a multi-year regulatory process and bi-partisan legislation with express statutory mandates. Virginia’s participation in RGGI is neither discretionary nor subject to the Air Board’s approval; the law requires it. It is illegal for the board to override legislative mandates and regulations through rogue executive action.
Virginia Conservation Network and our Partners will continue to defend Virginia’s key climate mitigation policy and only source of flood relief funding, no matter who is attacking it. If you want to advocate for RGGI, see our General Assembly Advocacy Guide to see what actions you can take to protect Virginia’s environment.
Partner Statements
See what the conservation community has to say about the Air Board’s vote to begin the process of withdrawing from RGGI.
Last updated December 9th, 10 AM.
Virginia Conservation Network
“The simple fact is that Virginians, through the General Assembly, have decidedly committed that Virginia will participate in RGGI. Neither the Air Board, Governor, nor the DEQ has the authority to take away millions in climate relief from Virginians.” – Mary Rafferty, Executive Director
“Gov. Youngkin’s ongoing attempt to withdraw Virginia from RGGI via regulatory action is unlawful. The governor’s actions are blind to the very real benefits this program is delivering to communities in need, and blind to the widespread support for RGGI that the public has repeatedly shown, including at the rally today. RGGI is helping Virginia proactively respond to the climate crisis, including by helping those most impacted by it. This would be much harder to do if Virginia did not receive the critical funding that RGGI supplies.” – Emily Piontek, Virginia Energy Democracy Field Coordinator
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
“We are disappointed in this decision by the Air Board to move forward with this regulatory process. Participation in RGGI helps Virginians across the Commonwealth protect their homes and businesses from flooding and it is good for the health of the Chesapeake Bay.
About one-third of the nitrogen pollution that enters our waterways started as air pollution, which eventually falls to the ground or water with rain or snow. As participation in the RGGI program reduces the air pollution from power plants, it also reduces pollution in streams, rivers, and the Chesapeake Bay.
RGGI also provides the only dedicated revenue in Virginia for community flood protection projects. Already, RGGI has helped kick-start dozens of flood preparedness efforts statewide from the Eastern Shore to Southwest Virginia. These funds are prioritized to nature-based projects, which also filter pollution and create wildlife habitat.
Virginia’s leaders can support a healthy Bay while protecting communities from flooding by ensuring our continued participation in RGGI.” –Peggy Sanner, Virginia Executive Director
“Governor Youngkin has proven time and again that his allegiances are with the fossil fuel industry, not the people of Virginia. Participation in RGGI is a commonsense policy that reduces air pollution, keeps us on track to meet our climate goals, and provides necessary funding to address the flooding we see today and that we know will get worse in the coming years. Because of RGGI’s overwhelming public support, Youngkin failed to repeal this popular policy through the legislature. It is appalling that the Governor has now turned to using unelected members of a citizen board to enact his extremist agenda. This transparently undemocratic and illegitimate attempt at repeal reveals the lengths to which Youngkin will go to drag Virginia backwards on climate.” –Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
“Virginia was the first southern state to join the successful, bipartisan Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, and the benefits are clear – from less pollution to reducing the energy burden on low income Virginians. We call on the governor to halt these unlawful efforts to pull the Commonwealth out of RGGI.” – Andrea McGimsey, Executive Director
“Youngkin’s foolhardy attempt to run roughshod over Virginia’s pollution law on behalf of his out-of-state fossil fuel political donors only shows that he has put his own political ambitions above protecting the everyday Virginians he was elected to serve. Youngkin’s unlawful attack on Virginia’s climate law is reckless, and imperils Virginians’ pocketbooks as well as our climate future.
Governors can’t imperiously shred standing law, and I think Virginians are tired of that kind of deliberate, Trump-style chaos in their government, especially when it’s aimed at a popular program like RGGI. RGGI is a keystone climate action that has already delivered nearly half a billion dollars in crucial flood protection and energy efficiency investments, while heading off the worst, most expensive climate damage facing our coastal real estate.” – Walton Shepherd, Virginia Policy Director
“The administration continues to march down this repeal path despite the fact it has no such authority to repeal this regulation. The law requires Virginia’s participation in RGGI, and the administration must abide by the General Assembly’s decision. But equally troubling is the fact that the administration appears uninterested in listening to its own residents. The public overwhelmingly opposed this action, but the administration is poised to plow through this irresponsible and unlawful repeal, no matter what people say and no matter the harm to Virginia.” – Nate Benforado, Senior Attorney
“Today, Governor Youngkin’s vision for Virginia became abundantly clear: flooded streets, endangered communities, and more Virginians breathing dirtier air. When Youngkin’s rigged Air Board voted to move forward with his illegal push to single-handedly override Virginia law by taking Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, they also voted to eliminate one of our best tools to cut pollution, to take vital resources away from communities battling dangerous flooding, and to defund programs that help low-income Virginians cut energy costs.
At a time when we need to be doing everything we can to address climate change, which affects us all, this politically motivated repeal effort is not only misguided, it’s downright reckless. Youngkin has offered no plan to address climate change, no plan to address its current impacts on Virginia, and no plan to secure a clean energy future. Youngkin would be better-served using his time as Governor to act in the best interest of all Virginians, instead of what’s best for his 2024 Presidential campaign.” – Michael Town, Executive Director
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