Virginia’s return to RGGI is a major step forward for our climate, our communities, and our future.
We thank Governor Abigail Spanberger for her leadership and clear commitment to restoring this critical program. Rejoining RGGI means getting back to work reducing pollution, lowering energy costs for the most vulnerable Virginians, and investing in the resilience Virginia communities deserve. Attorney General Jones also deserves credit for writing the wrongs of the previous administration's suit against this common-sense program.
We’re also deeply grateful to the Southern Environmental Law Center for their tireless legal advocacy to ensure Virginia could rejoin the program. Their work helped keep the door open for this moment.
This progress would not have been possible without years of dedication from grassroots advocates across the Commonwealth. Supporters, volunteers, and community leaders never let this issue fade—and that persistence made the difference.
Finally, we thank our champions in the General Assembly for their continued commitment to RGGI and for standing up for policies that put people, not polluters, first.
The benefits of the RGGI program are enormous: it directly lowers the energy costs people face through weatherization of low-income homes, it protects communities facing consistent recurring flooding of streets and homes, and it makes polluters pay for the damage they are causing instead of only endless corporate profits.
Virginia is ready to reap the benefits once again—and now we are looking forward to working with the Department of Environmental Quality to ensure Virginia can fully realize the benefits of action on climate: cleaner air, lower costs, and stronger communities.