Big news out of Virginia! A state court recently ruled that Governor Glenn Youngkin broke the law by trying to pull Virginia out of a vital program designed to cut harmful pollutants. The program, called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), involves 11 states working together to reduce pollution from power plants. The court said Youngkin didn’t have the authority to remove the state, only the legislature could make that decision.
Since joining the initiative in 2020, Virginia has raked in more than $827 million, which has been used to help families save on energy bills and protect communities from flooding. And the results speak for themselves—Virginia has seen a 22% drop in power plant pollution.
This ruling is a big win for Virginians who benefit from the program’s support. Billy Weitzenfeld, who helped bring the lawsuit, celebrated the decision, saying, “The wrong has been righted in this moment.” His organization uses RGGI funds to help families make their homes more energy-efficient, saving them money in the long run.
RGGI’s funds do a lot of good: half of it goes toward helping low-income households with home energy improvements, while almost 45% goes to protect flood-prone areas.
But Governor Youngkin isn’t giving up yet. He plans to appeal the decision, claiming that the program acts like a “regressive tax” on Virginians—though many experts don’t agree with this view.
Nate Benforado, the environmental lawyer who won the case, put it simply: “Future generations deserve a livable climate.” This ruling brings Virginia closer to adapting to and fighting climate change.
Michael Town, from the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, also celebrated the win: “The end result of this illegal rollback was dirtier air, more communities left exposed to floodwaters, and fewer tools to help Virginians cut energy costs.”
It’s a great day for Virginians, as the state can continue benefiting from cleaner air, safer communities, and the power to save on energy bills. And for those working in the field, local contractors and communities will keep receiving much-needed support!