Climate progress under attack in Virginia

Last month, the Youngkin administration released the 2022 Virginia Energy Plan which pledges to undo years of climate progress. We cannot let that happen.

Since 2019, Virginia has made great progress in addressing climate change and moving to 100% renewable energy. Three policies in particular have moved Virginia in the right direction in lowering carbon emissions: entering the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), committing to transition to 100% clean energy via the Virginia Clean Economy Act (VCEA) and bringing more electric vehicles to Virginia by establishing clean car standards. 

RGGI has surpassed expectations in raising money to improve energy efficiency across the Commonwealth. The VCEA has spurred clean energy development with record growth in solar and the nation’s first wind farm in federal waters. 

Unfortunately, these policies are under attack. Last legislative session, there were bills attempting to rollback clean car standards, RGGI and the VCEA. The Youngkin administration’s 2022 Virginia Energy Plan pledged to remove Virginia from RGGI, end clean car standards and take an “all of the above” approach to energy. We know there will be further repeal bills this year and that we cannot afford to lose one ally in the legislature. 

In order to protect our climate and our progress, we must:

• Defend the VCEA: Passed in 2020, the VCEA established the Commonwealth as the first state in the South to set a 100% clean energy goal. 
• Defend clean cars standards: Transportation is climate enemy number one. Virginia set low and zero emission vehicle mandates which will allow Virginians to electrify their ride.
• Defend energy efficiency investments by standing up for Virginia’s participation in RGGI: In Virginia’s first year of participation in RGGI, the Commonwealth received $228 million from RGGI auctions, of which half went to energy efficiency programs for low-income citizens.