RICHMOND, VA – The Floyd County Circuit Court ruled today that Gov. Glenn Youngkin administration’s decision to direct the Air Pollution Control Board to end Virginia’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (“RGGI”) was unlawful. The decision upholds the argument that environmental advocacy groups, activists, and lawmakers have been making for years: only the Virginia General Assembly has the authority to repeal the RGGI regulations.
RGGI is a multi-state cap-and-invest program that gradually limits carbon emissions from power plants and charges polluters for their emissions. In Virginia, the associated revenue funds flood resilience and low-income energy efficiency programs, including weatherization and efficient affordable housing construction. RGGI is overwhelmingly supported by the public, with 66% of Virginians in support and over 95% of public comments during the Notice of Intended Regulatory Action (NOIRA) advocating against RGGI repeal.
In today’s decision, the Circuit Court ruled that “the only body with the authority to repeal the RGGI Regulation would be the General Assembly. This is because a statute, the RGGI Act, requires the RGGI Regulation to exist.” This corroborates comments submitted by CCAN to the Air Board in 2023, which stated that the RGGI Act “is not a vague directive for state agencies to administer RGGI when and as they see fit. It is a mandate.”
“Today’s decision is a testament to the legislative accomplishments of the General Assembly and their incredible work to protect our health and environment,” said Victoria Higgins, Virginia Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “RGGI is critical, proven, and overwhelmingly popular. More importantly, it is the law. Today, I want to especially extend our thanks to state Delegate Charniele Herring and former Senator Lynwood Lewis, who were the patrons that introduced and passed this strong climate law.”
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
RICHMOND, VA — A coalition of 34 groups from across the mid-Atlantic region today released a letter announcing their united opposition to a new proposal by PJM Interconnection, LLC (PJM) that could fast-track natural gas projects in the regional interconnection queue. The coalition, which represents hundreds of thousands of environmental and clean energy activists in the PJM region, delivered the letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Willie Phillips, PJM Board Chairman Mark Takahashi, and three other leaders at FERC and PJM.
The PJM Board of Managers is currently considering whether or not to allow for expedited interconnection approval for certain resources, including natural gas, a move that threatens to exacerbate the climate crisis while sidelining renewable energy solutions essential to grid reliability and climate goals. The PJM Board will issue their final decision on Thursday, November 21.
“PJM’s unnecessary logjams have left hundreds of clean energy projects delayed in the interconnection queue for multiple years. To now fast-track fossil fuel projects ahead of clean energy projects means further delays for these projects who have waited long enough,” said Quentin Scott, Federal Director at Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “These projects can deliver reliable, low-cost energy while reducing emissions and addressing the urgent need for climate action.”
The letter is signed by environmental groups and clean energy industry representatives from Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and more. Signatories include Advance Maryland, CASA, Center for Progressive Reform, Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa), Maryland Energy Advocates Coalition, Maryland Legislative Coalition, New Virginia Majority, PennFuture, Virginia League of Conservation Voters, Virginia Sierra Club and dozens of others. Their letter highlights these key concerns:
Reliability Misconceptions: During extreme weather events like Winter Storm Elliott, natural gas and coal plants proved highly unreliable. PJM’s own analysis shows that hybridized clean energy resources, such as solar-plus-storage, provide greater reliability during peak demand periods.
Queue Bottlenecking: With over 90% of the 287 GW of resources in PJM’s interconnection queue coming from renewables, fast-tracking gas projects would further delay these essential clean energy sources.
Economic and Environmental Costs: Fast-tracking fossil fuels not only imposes greater capacity auction costs on consumers but also perpetuates public health and climate harms linked to continued fossil fuel infrastructure development.
“Due to the low reliability value of gas power plants, increased extreme weather expected due to climate change, and public health and climate impacts of fossil fuels, we strongly oppose the current fast-tracking proposal,” the letter states.
If the PJM Board passes the proposal, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission would need to approve it. The letter was also shared with FERC and relevant Congressional energy committees.
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
RICHMOND, VA — Today, Dominion Energy released its 2024 Integrated Resource Plan, a planning document that contemplates keeping all of the monopoly utility’s 19 fossil fuel generators online and building a half dozen new fossil fuel units. The plan comes on the heels of Hurricane Helene, a 225- to 250-billion-dollar disaster that claimed hundreds of lives and, experts say, was made significantly more destructive by climate change caused by burning fossil fuel. Hurricane Helene caused an estimated 125 million dollars in damages to farmland alone in Southwest Virginia.
Dominion’s plan envisions increasing customer bills by 75% to 157% over the next 15 years to meet demand driven by data centers, including by investing in exorbitantly expensive new nuclear facilities and gas peaking plants, the two most expensive forms of new generation. Relying on gas is as bad or worse for the climate as coal due to methane leakage throughout the lifecycle of the fuel. The plan also includes a significant investment in clean energy mandated by the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
“Dominion has, once again, put forward a plan to accelerate climate change in the Commonwealth,” said Victoria Higgins, CCAN’s Virginia Director. “Dominion’s plan would significantly increase pollution in Virginia, putting us knowingly in the way of natural disasters like Hurricane Helene – and worse. Scientists have been clear that new fossil fuel infrastructure is an existential threat to our people and economy. While we’re glad to see Dominion intends to build a significant amount of clean energy, no plan that also includes new, polluting fossil fuel infrastructure is a serious proposal in the face of these horrific impacts to human lives and our economy. Regulators and lawmakers must reign in Dominion’s reckless plans, and ensure data centers are coming to the table to plan for a clean energy future that is affordable for all Virginians.”
Not included in Dominion’s plan is any nod to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a carbon cap-and-invest program required by Virginia law from which Governor Glenn Youngkin is currently attempting to remove the state. By pulling Dominion and other monopoly utilities out of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Governor Youngkin deprives Virginia of hundreds of millions of dollars each year for proactive flood preparedness to prevent the worst impacts of natural disasters, as well as funding for home weatherization for low-income families – many of whom live in the vulnerable Southwest region.
The vast majority of the accelerating electricity-load growth in Dominion territory is tied to data centers, which increasingly house artificial intelligence operations. Under current Virginia law and regulatory policy, Virginia residents will pay for the generation and transmission costs associated with new generation infrastructure necessary to serve data centers. The State Corporation Commission is planning a technical conference in December to assess whether to change how to allocate energy costs associated with large energy users.
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Dozens of concerned citizens call for the Board to protect health and climate
CHESTERFIELD, VA – Today, dozens of concerned Chesterfield County residents rallied at the monthly Chesterfield Board of Supervisors meeting to protest against the tentative placement of Dominion Energy’s proposed gas power plant in their county. The boisterous gathering was organized in response to the Board of Zoning Appeals’ refusal to hear an appeal from the Friends of Chesterfield community group – which was joined at the rally by allies from the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Mothers Out Front, Chesterfield County Branch NAACP, and other local advocates. Protesters held up signs and chanted slogans opposing the new plant and other fossil fuel infrastructure projects that endanger public health and contribute to climate change.
Just hours before the rally, Friends of Chesterfield announced it had filed a fresh challenge with the county, attempting to call Dominion’s zoning into question. A day prior, the Southern Environmental Law Center also published a report that it had commissioned, which found that constructing an alternative renewable-based energy portfolio would cost ratepayers less than half the projected cost of CERC while providing the same annual energy and peak capacity – addressing reliability concerns.
As the rally gathered momentum, speakers addressed the crowd outside of the building before entering to address the Board meeting with public comments including the following:
Statement from Melissa Thomas, Mothers Out Front:
“Residents of Chesterfield County, who have for decades endured the harmful consequences of pollution from fossil fuel combustion in their community, are pleading with their locally elected representatives to exercise the authority entrusted to them. Their request is straightforward: Please grant us the opportunity to voice our concerns in a public hearing.”
Statement from Glen Besa, Friends of Chesterfield:
“Why is the Board of Supervisors refusing to hold a hearing on Dominion Energy’s massive methane gas power plant that would be the county’s largest source of air pollution? That is a question that every resident of Chesterfield should be asking Chairman Holland and all the county supervisors.”
Statement from Rachel James, Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), speaking on behalf of her client:
“The Chesterfield Branch of the NAACP is committed to elevating the voices of underrepresented groups to ensure their inputs inform each stage of the decision-making processes associated with Dominion’s proposed gas plant. The challenge here is that instead of stepping up to take advantage of the opportunity for local input into the air permit evaluation, the Board of Supervisors is stepping back. The Board is deferring to the Department of Environmental Quality to make a determination that the law recognizes local governing bodies, informed by their constituents, are equipped to make. Holding a public hearing on the issue of site suitability is completely within the Board’s authority to do. Refusing to hold a hearing is unacceptable. That’s why we’re here.”
Statement from Mason Manley, Central Virginia Organizer for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN):
“For more than a year now, Chesterfield residents have expressed their discontent at the lack of meaningful public participation in county approval processes for the so-called Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center. Now, the voices of Chesterfield residents could not be clearer: telling the Board to hold a vote on the matter of Site Suitability and Value and vote ‘No.’”
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The Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the oldest and largest grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with climate change in the Chesapeake Bay region. For more than 20 years, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, D.C. and beyond.
Zero-emission heating equipment standards, part of Gov. Moore’s ambitious executive order on climate, can lower energy bills, deliver healthier air for residents, and accelerate progress towards Maryland’s climate goals
BALTIMORE — A coalition of health, environmental justice, and climate organizations today applauded an executive order from Gov. Wes Moore directing the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) to develop zero-emission heating equipment standards this year. This announcement, which comes as a new analysis from RMI (founded as Rocky Mountain Institute) reveals that Marylanders can save an average of $740 on heating and cooling and $380 on water heating by upgrading to highly efficient heat pumps and heat pump water heaters, will ensure Maryland residents can adopt the best, most efficient clean heating equipment.
Healthy air standards can phase in the adoption of highly efficient heat pumps, which provide affordable, reliable heating and cooling year round while reducing health-harming air pollution. In Maryland, fossil fuel heating equipment in residential and commercial buildings emits more than three times as much health-harming nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions as all the state’s power plants put together, and is responsible for approximately 3,500 cases of asthma, 6,500 lost work days, and $1.3 billion in health impacts each year. Alarmingly, pollution from burning fossil fuels in homes and commercial buildings has increased in recent years, making this executive order even more essential.
Maryland is already a regional leader in heat pump adoption. Already, 54% of Maryland homes are on track to install heat pumps by 2030, and in February 2024 Gov. Moore joined eight states to pledge to accelerate the adoption of heat pumps to reach 65% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2030 and 90% of all HVAC and water heating sales by 2040. Further, Maryland residents overwhelmingly support this policy. According to polling from CCAN, three-quarters of Maryland voters support healthy air standards that would phase in heat pump technology.
QUOTES FROM ADVOCATES BELOW:
“Today’s announcement from Gov. Moore not only cements Maryland’s legacy as a climate leader, but will create more equitable access to climate and health resources, paying dividends for generations to come,” said Ruth Ann Norton, president & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “Phasing in zero-emission heating equipment standards, coupled with policies that build healthier, more affordable homes, will provide urgent relief in the form of cleaner, healthier air for low-income families and a future where all Marylanders can thrive.”
“To meet its climate goals, Maryland must tackle fossil fuel use in buildings, which represents 13% of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions,” said Anne Havemann, general counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network. “We’re proud to see Governor Moore take a massive step toward this goal through today’s executive order, which will gradually reduce this climate pollution from buildings and send a signal to manufacturers, retailers, and installers to prepare for an increased demand in clean technologies such as heat pumps.”
“The impact of air pollution from burning fossil fuels in our homes is not evenly distributed across Maryland, with people of color 60% more likely to be exposed to pollution from gas heating equipment, exacerbating health conditions like asthma and heart disease for vulnerable communities,” saidJose Coronado-Flores, an organizer for CASA. “Promoting the adoption of highly-efficient electric equipment such as heat pumps through this executive order will finally help close the alarming, preventable health disparities we see from this air pollution.”
“We applaud Governor Moore’s affirmative step to promote clean electric heat pumps that should lower bills and improve health outcomes and quality of life for Marylanders,” said Leah Louis-Prescott, building electrification policy expert at RMI. “To ensure monthly energy savings go to the residents who need it most, the Moore administration must pursue a suite of equity-focused policies to help low-income residents adopt this highly efficient technology.”
“Marylanders are working together to reduce climate pollution from every sector, but burning fossil fuels indoors in the buildings where we live, work, learn, and pray is continuing to hurt our neighbors and damage our common home,” said Andrea Orozco, faithful advocacy lead at Interfaith Power & Light (DC.MD.NoVa). “We welcome zero-emission heating equipment standards as a major step towards reckoning with and addressing the harms of gas-burning in our buildings. For all that has breath, we celebrate Governor Moore’s announcement.”
“Burning fossil fuels in our buildings is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions in Maryland,” said Josh Tulkin, Sierra Club Maryland Chapter Director. “By developing zero-emission heating equipment standards this year, Maryland can make a measurable dent in climate pollution while delivering cleaner, healthier air for residents.”
“Pollution from gas furnaces and water heaters increases the risk of premature death, asthma attacks, and cancer,” said Emily Scarr, State Director at Maryland PIRG. “We applaud Gov. Moore for today’s announcement and look forward to supporting strong regulations to clean up our air, lower heating bills, and protect the health of Maryland families.”
Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, Washington, DC and beyond.
CCAN Applauds Historic New EPA Rules to Crack Down on Power-Plant Pollutants
As the EPA finalizes new rulesto put a stop to harmful fossil-fuel pollutants, climate activists look forward to the next steps
Washington, D.C. — On April 25, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized a historic package of standards restricting pollution from fossil-fuel power plants throughout the nation. The new regulations require that existing coal and new gas power plants cut or capture 90% of their emissions, update and strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards (MATS) limiting toxic metal contamination, and mandate safe disposal of coal ash and toxic wastewater. Climate activists celebrated the release of the new rules as a major victory for public health and clean energy.
Communities and families across America will benefit from EPA enacting these rules in a variety of ways including:
The power plant carbon pollution rule is expected to prevent 360,000 cases of asthma symptoms in 2035 and prevent up to 1,200 premature deaths.
These rules will reduce a wide range of toxic pollutants like arsenic, selenium, and other heavy metals that can cause cancer; and harm to the kidneys, lungs, and nervous system. These rules will also reduce pollutants that lead to developmental delays, learning disabilities, and birth defects.
Quentin Scott, Federal Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN), made the following statement in response to the newly finalized rules:
“Low-income communities and communities of color who disproportionately live near fossil fuel power plants have been waiting far too long. The fight to update these standards spanned multiple administrations but President Biden and Administrator Regan promised they would get it done– and now they did it! This is a big step in the right direction toward righting past wrongs done to environmental justice communities. We aren’t done, but days like these get us excited for the work to come.”
Unfortunately, not all utilities will look at these rules as an opportunity to change their business priorities, but instead see it as a last chance to saddle rate-payers with a financial boondoggle. They’ve already started. Dominion Energy has proposed a 1,000 MW gas plant in Chesterfield, Virginia and Duke Energy has proposed 10 new gas plants in their service territories. We’re ramping up our members and partners for the next phase of this fight for a cleaner, safer future.”
The package of EPA standards has now been finalized from the agency’s perspective. However, they are now subject to the Congressional Review Act (CRA), which allows Congress to reverse agency standards. Senator Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia has already promised to file a motion in the coming weeks to reverse these rules. It’s unclear if U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) will bring the motion for a vote.
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Chesapeake Climate Action Network is the first grassroots organization dedicated exclusively to raising awareness about the impacts and solutions associated with global warming in the Chesapeake Bay region. Founded in 2002, CCAN has been at the center of the fight for clean energy and wise climate policy in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC.
Baltimore, MD – The Chesapeake Climate Action Network mourns the tragic loss of life on March 26 with the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. Our hearts go out to the families of those who are presumed dead after the collapse. Our thoughts are with the immigrant community whose loved ones had been working on the bridge at the time of the collapse.
Hundreds of thousands of people in the greater Baltimore community rely on the Francis Scott Key Bridge and have had their daily life and commute disrupted. As Baltimore seeks a path forward in the wake of this disaster, the entire staff and board of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network are thinking of our members most affected by the collapse and everyone in the Baltimore region.
CCAN applauds as Biden Administration sets tougher industry standards that could save thousands of lives and billions of dollars
Washington, DC — Yesterday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took another bold step to curb carbon pollution with their announcement of a final rule update to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for Particulate Matter (PM 2.5), more commonly known as the soot rule. The new rule is EPA’s first change to the annual exposure limit for fine particles in more than a decade.
The EPA’s new soot rule is expected to save an estimated 4,500 lives and deliver $46 billion in health benefits by 2032 by setting an average yearly soot exposure standard of 9 micrograms per cubic meter of air, down sharply from the current threshold of 12 micrograms.
President Joe Biden and EPA Administrator Michael Regan deserve tremendous credit for finalizing a strong soot rule that will save lives and provide cleaner air in our communities, especially communities of color overburdened by deadly particulate matter from power plants.
Statement from Quentin Scott, Federal Director for Chesapeake Climate Action Network (CCAN):
“Nearly one year ago we gathered at EPA headquarters demanding a strong final soot rule. On behalf of CCAN and our members, we applaud President Biden and Administrator Regan for listening and acting on the concerns of more than 150 environmental justice, frontline, faith, and community leaders. We look forward to the EPA finalizing additional pollution rules in the coming weeks and months to further curb pollution from power plants and protect the most vulnerable.”
Prominent Climate Groups Praise Study Findings, Optimistic About Electrification
Baltimore, MD — A report commissioned by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) shows that Maryland’s grid is equipped to accommodate high electrification of vehicles and buildings, especially if coupled with achievable gains in energy efficiency and load flexibility.
“The results from this study deliver good news to Marylanders,” said Chris Stix, a volunteer with Sierra Club who participated in the study. “We can achieve Maryland’s goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 60% without overloading the electric grid by widely deploying heat pumps. For space and hot water heating, the use of heat pumps is much more efficient than existing electric and fossil fuel appliances. As a result, they contribute only modestly to peak electric loads.”
The study shows that electrification of buildings and vehicles will result in very limited additional load growth relative to what the utilities are already planning in their own growth forecasts over the next ten years. In the high electrification scenario that assumes best-in-class technology (such as highly efficient cold-climate heat pumps), the Maryland system would see 1.1% annual load growth. This load growth could be even further reduced to 0.3% with ambitious but achievable energy efficiency and load flexibility measures.
“All Marylanders deserve a healthy and safe place to live. This study shows that not only can we upgrade homes across the state with clean, highly efficient equipment that will slash pollution and improve public health, but we already have the grid capacity to make those updates,” said Ruth Ann Norton, President & CEO of the Green & Healthy Homes Initiative. “Our state leaders in the General Assembly and Governor Moore must now pursue policies that will equitably deliver healthy, pollution-free homes.”
The expected load growth is comparable to or less than the Maryland system has seen year-by-year over the past 40 years. Historically, the system experienced significant load growth in the 1980s of 4.9% per year and more moderate growth of 1.2-1.5% from 1990-2010. Load declined between 2010-2020.
One reason for the limited impact of electrification is that there is existing headroom available on the grid to handle winter and summer peaks in demand. Heat pumps are also far more efficient than fossil-fuel-powered equipment. They provide both heating and cooling and are two to four times more efficient than gas furnaces and use 29% less electricity than the best-performing central air conditioning units.
In 2022, as part of the Climate Solutions Now Act, the Maryland General Assembly considered whether to require electric heating and cooling equipment in all newly constructed buildings in the state. Concerned about the impacts that new construction would have on the grid, legislators directed the PSC to create the Electrification Study Working Group (ESWG) to study the issue.
“This study completely puts to rest the question of whether the grid can handle electrification of new construction,” said Anne Havemann, Deputy Director and General Counsel for the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, who also participated in the ESWG.
The PSC commissioned the Brattle Group to model five scenarios, two of which meet the state’s goal of 60% GHG reduction from 2006 levels by 2031. The first, 3A, employs a high level of cold-climate heat pumps, with 90% of space heating sales in buildings being heat pumps by 2030. The second, 3B, employs a high level of conventional heat pumps by 2030. Water heater sales are assumed to be 90% heat pumps by 2027. For electric vehicles, all scenarios achieve Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) and Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) regulations.
The assumptions used in Brattle’s study were carefully considered by the Electrification Study Work Group and all stakeholders, including the utilities, had the extensive ability to comment on them. As a starting point, Brattle used each electric utility’s 10-year plan. The starting level of heat pump deployment is based on a 2022 survey commissioned by the PSC.
“Maryland is on the cusp of an exciting transition to a 21st-century energy future,” Havemann added. “To manage this transition equitably and responsibly, Maryland must commit to policies such as zero-emissions equipment standards that can accelerate the adoption of highly efficient technologies such as heat pumps and modernizing its grid to ensure all residents reap the health and economic benefits of pollution-free homes. Targeted incentives and new regulations that prioritize equity must be implemented now to achieve the transition to a highly electrified future in a way that doesn’t leave Marylanders behind. This future is achievable and manageable and we encourage the state to commit now.”
