VIRGINIA Should Stay in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative [RGGI]

Most all the northeastern states are in the RGGI

From the Action Alert of Zander Pellegrino, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, 2/25/23

Bad news, Virginia! Governor Glenn Youngkin is moving forward on his extremely unpopular crusade to remove Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). A recent poll found that huge bipartisan majorities of Virginians, including a plurality of Republicans, want to stay in RGGI. Yet four appointees on the Virginia Air Pollution Control Board – all hand-picked by Governor Youngkin – voted to remove us from RGGI.

Virginia has already received over $523 million from RGGI. But Governor Youngkin’s scheme puts us at risk of losing vital funds to prevent flooding and would throw our state’s carbon cap-and-trade market into chaos.

Now the decision to leave RGGI is up for public comment and we need YOUR voice! Join CCAN and fellow climate activists for a virtual comment-writing party on Wednesday March 1 at 6:30 PM. RSVP today!

We’re hosting this comment-writing party to make sure Virginians like YOU are heard. The League of Conservation Voters, Appalachian Voices, Nature Forward, and Sierra Club will be joining us.

Our featured speakers – Megan Root and McKenzie Brocker – work for the city of Roanoke on climate adaptation and sustainability. They will share what RGGI funding can mean for their part of Virginia.

Then we will go into breakout sessions where organizers will coach you on how to craft a strong comment. By the end of the hour, your comment will be ready for submission on the online portal! We will even help you navigate the website to make sure yours gets in. Sign up today!

Last fall, we submitted 838 comments and an overwhelming number were in favor of RGGI. Generating another immense outpouring of support for RGGI will not only build the case against the Air Board repeal, it will also bolster RGGI’s support with lawmakers in the VA state legislature – where RGGI’s fate is legally decided.

And we will keep fighting! So RSVP today to join us Wednesday March 1 at 6:30 PM for a public comment-writing party.

See you there, Zander Pellegrino, CCAN, 2/25/23

https://actionnetwork.org/events/defend-rggi-public-comment-writing-party/