Virginia Judge Blocks Youngkin's RGGI Withdrawal

A Virginia Circuit Court judge ruled that Governor Glenn Youngkin does not have the authority to withdraw the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) without legislative approval. The court found that the Air Pollution Control Board's vote to exit RGGI was unlawful, as the initiative was established by a 2020 law that requires General Assembly consent for any withdrawal. Youngkin's administration argued that participation in RGGI constitutes a hidden tax on consumers, with rising energy costs attributed to the carbon credit system. Environmental groups hailed the ruling as a significant victory, emphasizing the benefits Virginia has gained from RGGI funding for climate resilience projects. The Youngkin administration plans to appeal the decision, continuing the contentious debate over Virginia's energy policy. The RGGI involves multiple states collaborating to lower carbon emissions from power plants and has been a focal point of environmental and economic discussions in Virginia.