Virginia court blocks Governor Youngkin’s withdrawal from multistate climate initiative, forcing citizens to bear rising energy costs.
At a Glance
- Judge rules Virginia cannot exit Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative without legislative approval
- Dominion Energy reports $490 million in RGGI compliance costs, $267 million passed to customers
- State projections show additional $2-2.50 monthly increases in energy bills from 2027-2030
- Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares plan to appeal the decision
Court Ruling Keeps Virginia in RGGI
A Virginia court has dealt a blow to Governor Glenn Youngkin’s efforts to protect citizens from rising energy costs. Retired Judge C. Randall Lowe ruled that the state cannot withdraw from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) without legislative approval. This decision forces Virginia to remain in a program that has already cost Dominion Energy customers $267 million in additional charges.
The ruling highlights how unelected officials can override executive actions aimed at reducing household expenses. State projections show further increases of $2-2.50 in monthly energy bills through 2030 due to continued participation in RGGI. Governor Youngkin has identified the initiative as a hidden tax on Virginia families, impacting the state’s energy independence.
Three years ago I wrote that the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which brought millions of dollars to Virginia, was established by law and "cannot be undone by executive order."
A judge just agreed, ruling that Gov. Youngkin's withdrawal was "unlawful." https://t.co/6cmJagzPJQ
— Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) November 20, 2024
Impact on Virginians’ Energy Costs
Dominion Energy, the state’s largest utility, reported $490 million in RGGI compliance costs, with more than half of that amount already passed on to customers. This financial burden is expected to grow, as the State Corporation Commission estimates potential increases in monthly energy bills by $2 to $2.50 from 2027 to 2030 due to the RGGI.
“Governor Youngkin remains committed to lowering the cost of living for Virginians by continuing to oppose the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which fails to effectively incentivize emission reductions in the Commonwealth.” – Christian Martinez
The RGGI, a multistate effort to reduce carbon emissions from power plants, requires energy producers to purchase allowances for carbon dioxide emissions. Virginia joined the initiative in 2020 under previous Democratic leadership, but the current administration views it as an ineffective and costly program for Virginians.
Legal Battle and Political Divide
The court’s decision came after the Air Pollution Control Board’s authority to exit the program was challenged. Judge Lowe determined that the board exceeded its authority by voting to leave RGGI, effectively blocking the state’s formal exit attempt at the end of 2023.
“We look forward to defending the commonsense repeal of this counterproductive program on appeal.” – Shaun Kenney
Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Jason Miyares have announced plans to appeal this decision. Miyares expressed disappointment and committed to defending Virginia’s right to withdraw from RGGI. The case highlights the ongoing political divide over environmental policies and their economic impacts.
Breaking: Judge rules Virginia Gov. Youngkin can’t unilaterally withdraw from greenhouse gas agreement https://t.co/hG0wMfNFx4
— Just the News (@JustTheNews) November 20, 2024
Democratic Support for RGGI
Despite the cost increases, Democratic leadership in Virginia supports continued participation in RGGI. Virginia House Speaker Don Scott praised the court’s ruling, emphasizing the benefits of RGGI-funded programs in reducing energy costs and addressing climate change.
“Programs funded by RGGI have helped Virginians cut household energy costs, helped protect communities from floodwaters, and have been critical in the fight to cut pollution and address climate change.” – Don Scott
This stance underscores the political divide on environmental and energy policies in Virginia, with Republicans focusing on immediate cost savings for consumers and Democrats emphasizing long-term environmental benefits and climate change mitigation.
Sources:
- Judge rejects Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s bid to remove Virginia from greenhouse gas initiative
- Judge Rules Virginia Governor Can’t Withdrawal From Greenhouse Gas Deal
- Judge puts stop to governor’s effort to remove Virginia from greenhouse gas initiative
