I am a resident of Virginia Beach, a student at Virginia Tech, and a Virginian through and through. From the marshes of the Tidewater to the mountains of the Appalachian Plateau, we live in one of the most geographically diverse regions in the world. The Tidewater area is the second most susceptible area to sea level rise in our nation second only to New Orleans. Dealing with these issues starts with investing aggressively in renewable energy sources like wind, solar, geothermal, and hydroelectric. One community most at risk is the community of Tangier Island. Due to sea level rise, it is unlikely that the island will survive past the end of this century and if we do not act now, this will be the fate of many more coastal communities. As the Environmentalist Chair of the Virginia Young Democrats I am proud to see my state taking the issues of climate change and sea level rise seriously and I hope that action is taken swiftly and decisively. Thank you.

I am glad to see Virginia taking steps to cut carbon pollution to combat climate change, despite Trump’s continued attacks on environmental protections. As a Virginian, I am eager to see the state produce a strong, equitable, and scientifically sound plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

I request that DEQ use its authority to:
• Create a rule based on the strongest available science that significantly reduces carbon pollution from Virginia’s power plants.
• Ensure that Virginia residents benefit from any profits from carbon standards, especially front-line communities.
• Address the disproportionate environmental burdens experienced by vulnerable communities.
• Grow the clean energy economy by maximizing investments in zero-carbon wind, solar, and energy efficiency.
• Provide accessible public hearing opportunities in the evenings in multiple parts of the state to ensure all concerned Virginians can fully participate in the rule-making process.

(Re: 9VAC5-140, Regulation for Emissions Trading Programs)
(NOIRA Stage: Reduce and Cap Carbon Dioxide from Fossil Fuel Fired Electric Power Generating Facilities (Rev. C17))