John,

On his first day in office, Virginia's new Republican Governor, Glenn Youngkin, signed an executive order to remove the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). And the ripple effects of Youngkin's backward decision are already visible.

RGGI is a regional carbon market, and it has already provided hundreds of millions in annual revenue in Virginia alone, and there's no clear source for replacement of these funds in the state. Youngkin has also failed to release any plan to improve air quality with the expected increase in air pollution that will result from leaving RGGI.

On top of this, it's not even clear that Youngkin can legally withdraw from the RGGI on his own. Virginia's 2020 Clean Energy and Community Flood Preparedness Act included requirements for the state Department of Environmental Quality to join RGGI, questioning Youngkin's executive order's legality.

While Youngkin is pursuing withdrawal of Virginia from RGGI, the future of Pennsylvania's membership hangs in the balance of the upcoming gubernatorial election. The Pennsylvania legislature is already priming bills that could limit or block the keystone state from joining RGGI. If the legislature passes these measures and Democrats lose the governor's mansion, the prospects for expanding RGGI into Pennsylvania will be bleak.

What's happening in Virginia and Pennsylvania underscores why every election matters. That's why we cannot lose ground in the midterm elections. We must protect SEEC members in 2022 who will fight to protect our environment and tackle climate change. Will you help us ensure they are elected?

The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is a market-based program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from power plants in northeastern and mid-Atlantic states. RGGI generates revenue that states can leverage for federal dollars through the infrastructure package or (once passed) the Build Back Better Act while advancing us towards our emissions goals.

RGGI has already delivered hundreds of millions of dollars to the citizens of the states it covers in energy savings, as well as billions more dollars in health benefits. To say nothing of the climate.

This program is the result of years of advocacy for a cleaner, greener future. We can't afford to let that progress slip away.

Ending Congress' deadlock over climate and passing Build Back Better will be paramount to RGGI expanding into other states. That's why, John, we elect SEEC members to Congress in 2022 who will continue passing national legislation to tackle climate change and protect our environment. Can we count on your help?

— SEEC PAC