Virginia Rejoins RGGI, Aiming to Cut Power Bills
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- Virginia signed a bill last month to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, reversing its 2022 exit.
- Spanberger pledged to make electricity bills more affordable and now supports the carbon‑pricing program as part of her governor agenda.
- Shobe argues that RGGI permit revenues can be used to offset data‑center costs for ratepayers, turning polluter fees into bill‑saving credits.
- California Democrats called for loosening the state’s cap‑and‑trade system in 2024, reflecting broader Democratic concerns about cost impacts.
- Hochul postponed a new cap‑and‑trade plan for cars and buildings while keeping New York in RGGI, highlighting intra‑state policy tension.
Why it matters: More than half of Virginians, who get electricity from Dominion, will see lower bills as RGGI permit revenues offset data‑center costs, while utilities bear the carbon price.
