On January 8, Virginia’s proposed Regulation for Emissions Trading Programs was published in the Virginia Register of Regulations. The regulation proposes a CO2 Budget Trading Program that imposes a declining cap on carbon emissions from certain fossil-fuel-fired stationary boilers, combustion turbines, and combined-cycle systems, and links Virginia to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). The rule is expected to reduce Virginia’s carbon emissions by 30% between 2020 and 2030.
The proposed regulation was developed in order to meet the directives of former Governor McAuliffe’s Executive Directive 11, Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions from the Electric Power Sector and Growing Virginia’s Clean Energy Economy. The Executive Directive concludes that regulations limiting the total amount of carbon dioxide emitted from electric power facilities are needed to protect public health and welfare, and to mitigate the potential for storm surges and other threats that result from climate change.
Public comment on the proposed regulation is currently open and will remain open until April 9. Additionally, six public hearings will be held in March at Virginia Department of Environmental Quality offices throughout the Commonwealth. You can submit comments and view public hearing information here.
