A Virginia court ruled on Wednesday that Governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration must seek approval from the state Legislature before withdrawing from an interstate carbon emission reduction agreement.
Youngkin, after taking office in 2022, revealed plans to pull Virginia out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a multistate pact that his predecessor, Democrat Ralph Northam, had committed to. The governor argued that RGGI, which requires states to buy allowances to offset emissions, raised utility costs for Virginians.
Governor Youngkin vows to appeal court ruling against his push to exit multistate carbon emissions agreement
Following the state Legislature’s rejection of several bills aimed at withdrawal, the State Air Pollution Control Board—dominated by Youngkin’s appointees—voted 4-1 to exit the agreement. However, in a ruling on Tuesday, Floyd County Circuit Court Judge Randall Lowe declared the board’s decision invalid, calling it “unlawful.”
Lowe’s ruling emphasized that the General Assembly is the only body authorized to overturn the RGGI regulation, citing the RGGI Act, which mandates the regulation’s continuation.
In a statement to The Hill, Youngkin’s press secretary Christian Martinez announced the governor’s intention to appeal the decision, reaffirming his commitment to reducing living costs for Virginians. “Governor Youngkin remains opposed to RGGI, as it fails to deliver meaningful emission reductions and burdens Virginians with a hidden tax,” Martinez stated.
The Virginia League of Conservation Voters, which has opposed Youngkin’s attempt to exit the agreement, praised the court’s decision. Executive Director Michael Town argued that the rollback would have worsened air quality and left communities more vulnerable to flooding, while reducing efforts to lower energy costs for residents. “We are very pleased with this ruling and look forward to Virginia rejoining RGGI as soon as possible,” Town concluded.
