Virginia is officially returning to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), the mandatory cap-and-trade program for power sector emissions. Governor Abigail Spanberger signed legislation that requires state agencies to reinstate participation regulations by late May 2026. This move follows years of legal disputes and executive orders that previously saw the state exit the program. New standalone bills also clarify that RGGI participation is a statutory requirement, aiming to prevent future administrations from unilaterally withdrawing from the carbon market.
