Virginia cannot withdraw from RGGI through Executive action.  It was passed in the General Assembly in 2020 and only the General Assembly can revoke VA's participation.  The Air Pollution Control Board has no authority.  So, if the Governor and APCB go forward with this  proposed withdrawal, it will just waste taxpayer money:  the action will be challenged in Court and the challengers will win.  What a waste.

Moreover, RGGI is a terrific initiative that already has had positive impacts in VA:  50% of the money generated goes to energy efficiency programs for low income folks in VA and about 45% goes to coastal resilience and community flood prevention.  Given the obvious impacts of climate change here in VA (coastal flooding; extreme heat) and across the country/world, we need to continue incentivizing electricity production away from fossil fuels and towards renewables.