I strongly support Virginia's participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), and oppose this executive order. 

The mission of the Department of Environmental Quality is "to protect and improve the environment for the health, well-being and quality of life of all Virginians" (https://www.deq.virginia.gov/get-involved/about-deq).  Virginia joined the RGGI because of the very serious threat that human-caused climate change represents to Virginians. The RGGI efforts to cap and reduce CO₂?emissions from the power sector is proving an effective tool to mitigate carbon emissions in the region. So far, RGGI emissions have "reduced by more than 50%—twice as fast as the nation as a whole" (https://www.rggi.org/sites/default/files/Uploads/Fact%20Sheets/RGGI_101_Factsheet.pdf). Also, this initiative reinvests proceeds back into local communities.

While I support the DEQ regularly evaluating our participation in the RGGI, continued participation in the RGGI and/or other programs to mitigate carbon emissions and adapt to climate change threats is a necessary component of the VA DEQ's work. The State Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) SHOULD NOT repeal the regulation implementing participation in RGGI (Part VII of 9VAC5-140).  is I urge the DEQ and the APCB to base any decisions on RGGI participation on the well-established science of climate change and the well-documented harms of further carbon emissions to the health, well-being and quality of life of Virginians.  We must all, throughout Virginia and beyond, work to shift our resource base away from fossil fuels in order to preserve the quality of life of all Virginians.

Thank you,

Elise Larsen