Virginia Approves Cap-and-Trade Plan and Moves to Join RGGI

The Virginia Air Pollution Control Board has approved a proposal to reduce power sector carbon dioxide emissions by 30 percent between 2020 and 2030. The proposal would link Virginia with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the nation’s first mandatory cap-and-trade program. The proposal is consistent with RGGI’s recently announced proposed improvements that caused a rebound in allowance prices in the September auction. With member states in agreement over the program's post-2020 path, RGGI is likely in for a boost that could see both price increases in future auctions and additional states joining the group.