Virginia is preparing to rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a cap-and-trade program covering ten East Coast states. This move has triggered a surge in carbon allowance prices on the secondary market, raising concerns that electricity costs will rise for consumers across the region. While environmentalists argue that higher carbon costs are necessary to drive investment in renewables, policymakers face a political challenge as they balance climate goals with energy affordability. The situation is further complicated by the high energy demands of AI data centers and volatile global fossil fuel prices.
