RICHMOND — The upcoming Virginia gubernatorial election will influence how environmental and energy policy progresses over the next four years. The two candidates tout interest in renewable and nonrenewable energy generation, but are divided when it comes to rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

The state has increasing energy demands, in great part due to data centers. A previous initiative passed by the General Assembly attempted to cap and trade the pollution that is a byproduct of fossil-fuel energy. Virginia joined the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, or RGGI, in 2021.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin began the process to withdraw Virginia from RGGI his first month in office. His executive order stated Virginia’s participation in the initiative would cause electricity prices to in

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