Youngkin’s Air Board Action Endangers Virginia’s Climate Progress

RICHMOND, VA — The Air Pollution Control Board voted to advance a proposed regulation today attempting to undo Virginia’s Regional Greenhouse Initiative (RGGI) law. Two board members abstained from voting due to their concerns about Youngkin’s legal authority to override Virginia’s RGGI law. The vote is followed by a 60-day public comment period on the proposed regulation.

The following is a reaction from Walton Shepherd, Virginia Policy Director at NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):

“Youngkin’s foolhardy attempt to run roughshod over Virginia’s pollution law on behalf of his out-of-state fossil fuel political donors only shows that he has put his own political ambitions above protecting the everyday Virginians he was elected to serve. Youngkin’s unlawful attack on Virginia’s climate law is reckless, and imperils Virginians' pocketbooks as well as our climate future.

“Governors can’t imperiously shred standing law, and I think Virginians are tired of that kind of deliberate, Trump-style chaos in their government, especially when it’s aimed at a popular program like RGGI. RGGI is a keystone climate action that has already delivered nearly half a billion dollars in crucial flood protection and energy efficiency investments, while heading off the worst, most expensive climate damage facing our coastal real estate.”

NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.