Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) is spotlighting Virginia‘s debate over the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, portraying his decision to vacate the group as an effort to promote affordability, as Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has made clear her intent to rejoin.

Virginia joined the RGGI, a program focused on capping and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in 2020 under former Gov. Ralph Northam. Youngkin yanked the commonwealth from the initiative after taking office in 2022, citing increasing utility costs for ratepayers.