Dear DEQ,

I strongly support taking action against climate change. Our state has already been impacted by climate change, as extraordinary drought, precipitation, and heat break from typical climate patterns and threaten Virginia's crops, its coastal regions, and its residents. Tidewater VA is home to over 1.6 million residents whose homes, livelihood, and safety are at severe risk from sea level rise, either directly or indirectly. Virginia's $3.3 billion agricultural industry is similarly at risk from atypical precipitation and temperature patterns. Our state is on the front line of climate change impacts.

Therefore, I ask the DEQ to take the following immediate actions to fighting climate change:

1. Create a rule to achieve a significant reduction of carbon pollution from Virginia power plants, based on the best available science, and ensue that any profits generated by carbon regulations benefit Virginians, not utility companies
2. Carefully consider the context of environmental justice to help ensure that vulnerable communities are not disproportionally impacted by future effects of climate change
3. Invest in wind and solar power generation and efficient energy storage and transmisison in order to grow the renewable energy economy in our state

Virginia needs to be a leader in climate action. I will support Governor McAuliffe and the DEQ wholeheartedly in turning this goal of limiting carbon pollution and building a clean energy economy into a reality. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

A. K.
Charlottesville, VA 22903