Daniel Willis (317) 493-9154, daniel.willis@sierraclub.org
RICHMOND, VA - Late last night, Virginia passed the Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act (HB 981, SB 1027) that enables the Commonwealth to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), America’s landmark multi-state plan to limit pollution from dirty fossil fuel plants and accelerate the transition to clean energy. The bill’s passage is a watershed moment for environmentalists and communities who have been championing the successful and popular policy for years.
With support from legislative champions, including patrons Senator Lynwood Lewis (D-Accomac) and Delegate Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria), and the Northam Administration the bill was able to pass with no special subsidies for dirty power plants. Virginia is expected to gain up to $150 million a year in revenue by joining RGGI. Fifty percent, or up to $75 million a year will be dedicated to energy efficiency programs for low-income households as they feel the highest proportional burden of expensive energy bills. Forty-five percent, or up to $67 million a year will be directed to the public safety of Virginians across the Commonwealth through community flood preparedness programs. Virginia should begin trading in the RGGI market in the first quarter of 2021.
The bill is off to Governor Northam’s desk where it awaits his signature.
Mary-Stuart Torbeck, Senior Organizer for the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter and the Beyond Coal Campaign
“Today is a landmark moment for our Commonwealth as Virginia is on the brink of joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) thanks to the Legislature and years of hard work by advocates. When signed into law and implemented, all Virginians will have cleaner air and water, and up to $75 million per year will fund badly needed energy efficiency programs to reduce the burden of high energy costs on low-income families. Joining RGGI is an important step toward protecting our climate and securing a sustainable clean energy future for our Commonwealth.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.