Opinion: Virginia’s Energy Plan Fails to Prioritize the Climate Crisis.

By:  Virginia Interfaith Power & Light

Virginia has a moral and global responsibility to transition as quickly as possible from burning fossil fuels for our energy production.

Richmond, Virginia – Governor Youngkin released the 2022 Virginia Energy Plan detailing how the Commonwealth will address energy efficiency, production, and affordability. 

Governor Youngkin’s newly released Virginia Energy Plan provides false solutions to Virginia’s energy future and provides a weak answer to the current threat of climate change. One of the most alarming aspects of his public statement was the politicization of Virginia’s energy future by creating a dichotomy between California and Virginia. While these statements may be great for headlines, they only confuse the issues. What is at stake is our moral imperative to protect the planet and its people.

In response, Rev. Dr. Faith Harris, Executive Director of Virginia Interfaith Power & Light, released the following statement: 

“Access to affordable and reliable energy for the future needs of Virginia requires practical solutions that take the realities of climate change seriously. This reality is mostly missing from this energy plan. Reducing carbon emissions is critical to preventing future catastrophic changes in our climate. It should be the central focus of any responsible energy plan. Like every other state, Virginia has a moral and global responsibility to transition as quickly as possible from burning fossil fuels for our energy production. Slowing down the retirement of coal and natural gas plants and removing Virginia from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative is the wrong direction for Virginians who want our state to do its part in combating climate change. While we agree that technology is still developing, we should not use this time to double down on fossil fuels. Instead, we need a forward-looking plan that centralizes renewables, providing incentives for their development.”

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About Virginia Interfaith Power & Light: Virginia Interfaith Power & Light collaborates with people of faith to grow healthy communities and advance climate justice through education, advocacy, and worship. For more information, visit http://www.vaipl.org.