Gov. Northam Rejects Proposal to Limit Pollution

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2019

CONTACT

Kendyl Crawford, Director, Virginia Interfaith Power & Light

(804) 505-4624, kcrawford@vaipl.org

Gov. Northam Rejects Proposal to Limit Pollution

Richmond, VA – May 2, 2019

Today, Governor Northam failed to veto budget language preventing Virginia from moving forward to limit carbon pollution from power plants. The budget signed today will prevent Virginia from linking with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). RGGI is a cap and trade program for carbon dioxide emissions from the energy sector currently with nine participating states.

Kendyl Crawford, Director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, said, “We are deeply disappointed in the governor’s decision to undermine climate justice. This is a missed opportunity to protect Creation, to protect public health, and to protect the future of the Commonwealth. We had looked to the Governor to take the lead on urgently addressing climate change and make Virginia a climate leader in the south.”

Virginia power plants can now continue to ravage our environment at a time when people across the state and the nation are already suffering from climate disruption ranging from record-breaking storms, to rising seas on the coast, to droughts and fires.

Crawford added, “The Governor’s decision empowers a small group of ill-informed climate obstructionists who are blocking an opportunity to protect our communities and the planet on which we depend. Even as the impact of powerful corporate energy interests reverberates across Virginia, we will continue to fight for climate justice.”

###

About Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: Virginia Interfaith Power & Light is a nonprofit organization that collaborates, as people of faith, to grow healthy communities and advance climate justice through education, advocacy, and worship with over 2,500 supporters across the state. We are a program of Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy. For more information, visit https://www.vaipl.org.