RICHMOND – Today, Governor McAuliffe issued Executive Directive 11 instructing the Department of Environmental Quality to develop a state-based regulation to cut carbon emissions from Virginia power plants in a way that allows Virginia to trade carbon allowances through a multi-state trading program and caps carbon at levels that correspond with other participating states with carbon limits.
The directive follows a months-long process that began with Executive Order 57, which convened a workgroup to look into ways to cut carbon emissions and grow the clean energy economy in Virginia. As outlined in the directive, DEQ has until the end of 2017 to present the proposed regulation to the state Air Pollution Control Board for its consideration.
In response, Michael Town, Executive Director of the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, issued the following statement:
“Virginia LCV has advocated for strong action to address climate change throughout Governor McAuliffe’s candidacy and term as Governor. Today’s initiative is the bold step forward we’ve been waiting for and we thank the administration for standing up to make sure Virginia does its part to address the climate crisis.
“This initiative recognizes the threat climate change poses to the environment, but more importantly, Governor McAuliffe recognizes that addressing climate change needs to be done in a way that improves peoples’ lives. In cutting the commonwealth’s carbon footprint we’re also bringing new jobs to the state in the clean energy sector – a central focus of the new Virginia economy this administration has tried so hard to build over the past few years.”