Keep Virginia in RGGI!
SNAPSHOT: Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is good for both climate change mitigation and adaptation. Governor Youngkin has unsuccessfully tried to remove VA since taking office through Executive Order and legislation, but now he’s attempting to withdraw through the regulatory process. The General Assembly voted to join RGGI in 2020 and only the legislature has the authority to remove VA. Any other attempts are illegal, plain and simple. We need to fight to hold the administration accountable, demand good governance, and block any attempts to leave RGGI.
BACKGROUND: This fight to remove Virginia from RGGI started before Governor Youngkin assumed office, prompting then Attorney General Mark Herring to issue an opinion letter stating that any administrative attempts to withdraw from RGGI would be inconsistent with the law. The opinion goes further and calls for Governors to faithfully execute the laws of the Commonwealth. Our Governor is failing to uphold this duty and is acting contrary to the wishes of our legislature. Since joining RGGI in 2021, every single bill introduced to remove Virginia from RGGI has been voted down in the General Assembly. When legislative attempts failed, Governor Youngkin turned his attention to the Air Pollution Control Board, hoping to pass a regulation to remove Virginia from RGGI. In response, 63 Virginia Senators sent a letter to the Air Board alerting members that a regulation does not get the job done, only the General Assembly can do it. Our elected representatives have spoken. Virginians have spoken. We do not want to leave this important program and actions to circumvent our General Assembly are careless.
THE IMPACTS: Since joining RGGI in 2020, Virginia is already emitting 16.8% less carbon dioxide (EPA). The pollution reduction benefits of RGGI are widely known and understood, but the monetary benefits are also critical. Virginia is the only RGGI participating state that directs the auction proceeds into grant programs that both mitigate the causes of greenhouse gasses through the Housing Innovations in Energy Efficiency (HIEE) program AND help communities adapt to the impacts of climate change through the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). Mitigation and adaptation, in one package. That’s the gold standard for addressing climate change – we have to do both. Over $700 million has funded these grant programs so far, providing game changing support for energy efficiency and flood risk reduction.
WHY THE MONEY MATTERS: Wetlands Watch works directly with the Community Flood Preparedness Fund (CFPF). Each RGGI auction, 45% of the Virginia proceeds go into the CFPF. Virginia desperately needs this money. We want it to continue flowing through this grant program for a couple of reasons:
This is the ONLY source of grant funding for flood risk preparedness and climate change adaptation in VA. The proceeds are consistent and reliable, which our communities need so they can plan to apply and continue applying for years to come. We realize this money is a drop in the bucket for the risk we will face in the future, but it’s all we have so far, and we have to protect it aggressively.
It’s a relatively easy grant for communities to apply through. This is a big deal for small under-resourced communities that don’t have time or training to navigate a complicated grant application.
The grants are available for planning and studies. You actually cannot access the project money unless you have an approved community flood resilience plan. We want our communities to plan first, then act. This means your community will have a vision for its risk BEFORE projects go in the ground. In Hampton Roads, we are 5-10 years ahead of other communities in VA. The reality is, VA’s communities need an opportunity to catch up with those that are leading the way.
The grant has a 25% set aside for low income communities. We need funding that benefits those that need it the most.
Finally, the CFPF prioritizes funding for community scale projects and projects that utilize nature based solutions. We need to use nature to fight nature AND acknowledge that in many places, nature will win. Our natural infrastructure is critical infrastructure. We must seek solutions that protect and preserve nature or our water quality, habitat, and economy will suffer.
WHAT WE/YOU NEED TO DO: We cannot sit idly by and watch the Administration cheapen our legislative process through this illegal attempt to remove Virginia from RGGI. We cannot afford to pull out of a program that’s bringing endless benefits to the Commonwealth, through both the mitigation of greenhouse gasses and the adaptation to flood risks. We’re participating in the public policy process, talking to the members of the General Assembly about the value of RGGI, speaking up at rallies and events, and supporting our partners and friends in their attempts to hold the Administration accountable. Elections are coming up. Vote for legislators that understand the value of RGGI. Talk to your legislators, tell them RGGI is good for Virginia and encourage them to protect against bills that take us out in the 2024 General Assembly.