Chesapeake Bay Foundation calls for Virginia to rejoin RGGI

An organization that seeks to promote better water quality in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed is saluting Governor Glenn Youngkin for several budget amendments to help that goal.

The budget amendments introduced on December 18 include the transfer of an additional $17.4 million to a fund used to support what’s known as “Agricultural Best Management Practices” across the Commonwealth.

“Farm conservation practices like fencing cattle out of streams and planting streamside trees and grasses are among the most cost-effective steps Virginia can take to restore the Bay and local streams,” reads a statement sent out by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation after the amendments were announced.

You can learn more about those programs on the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s website cost-share and tax credit programs.

The CBF release also notes that Governor Youngkin is proposing the creation of a Disaster Assistance Fund with the initial source being the proceeds that Virginia received in the December 2023 auction held by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. That was $97,444,075.68 according to the RGGI website.

The amendment adds another $25 million from the general fund to this line item.

Within an hour of taking office in January 2022, Youngkin signed an executive order stating his direction for Virginia to leave the interstate compact which requires power generators to purchase credits to exceed emission thresholds. The General Assembly passed legislation to join RGGI in 2020 and bills to exit legislatively failed in the 2022 session. The Youngkin administration pulled out anyway using executive means culminating in a 4-3 partisan vote on the State Air Control Board.

This November, a judge in Floyd County ruled that this action was unlawful. The ruling is being appealed, but the head of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation said he wants Virginia back in the program.

“Climate change is making extreme weather all too frequent, which underscores the urgency of the Disaster Relief Fund,” said executive director Chris Moore. “But it also demonstrates the need for proactive investments before disaster strikes, which is why Virginia must rejoin RGGI as soon as possible.”

You can go through all of the budget amendments on the Legislative Information System.

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. In fact, this particular installment is from the December 23, 2024 edition of the newsletter. To ensure this research can be sustained, please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon. There will be new options in 2025 if you’d like to wait. Just please know I’m glad you’re reading!