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Despite the best efforts in some quarters to ignore it — climate change is 

a problem that threatens the Commonwealth of Virginia. 1 

Whether it's the economic repercussions of sea-level rise on Virginia's 

coast-line, the health consequences of breathing polluted air, or the 

threat of more extreme weather conditions, climate change is having an 

impact on the day-to-day lives of the citizens of the Commonwealth. 

At this time, Virginia's costal region is experiencing the highest rates of 

sea-level rise along the entire East Coast of the U.S. In fact, the 

Hampton Roads area is second only to New Orleans in its vulnerability 

to sea level impacts. The Norfolk-Virginia Beach Metropolitan Area is 

ranked l Othin the world in the value of assets exposed to an increase in 

flooding from sea-level rise. 

We cannot afford to wait any longer to take action on climate change in 

VA — our economy, health, and long-term quality of life rest in the balance. 

According to the most recent estimates by the CDC, 8.7 percent of 

Virginia's adult population suffers from asthma. In the past three 

decades, the percentage of Americans with asthma has more than 

doubled, and climate change is putting those Americans at greater risk of 

landing in the hospital. 

In 2012, 25 million metric tons of carbon pollution were emitted from 

power plants in Virginia — equal to the yearly pollution from over 5 

million cars. This is unacceptable. 

We have a moral obligation to address this crisis now so that we do not leave 

our children an environment that is polluted and damaged beyond repair. 

For these reasons, I strongly urge the Virginia Department of Environmental 

Quality to adopt the guidelines of the President's Clean Power Plan to 

address climate change in the U.S. 
The EPA's goal is to reduce nationwide carbon emissions 30% below 

2005 levels by 2030. This is a reasonable and modest goal that we can 

help achieve by reducing carbon emissions in Virginia 38% below 2012 

levels by 2030. 

This goal has not been determined at random. Rather, it is based on the 

EPA's analysis of Virginia's energy profile and the potential for 

emissions reductions in four key "building blocks." These building 

blocks are currently available in the marketplace: 

1. Heat rate improvement at coal-fired power plants 

2. Shifting dispatch from coal to natural gas 

3. Increasing renewable and nuclear generation 

4. Increasing demand-side energy efficiency 

Fortunately, Virginia is already working to cut emissions in these areas 

by increasing renewable energy generation and improving energy 

efficiency throughout the Commonwealth. We have a stated goal of 

generating 15 percent of our electricity from renewable energy by 2025. 

Since 2009, the Obama Administration has supported 87 renewable 

energy projects in Virginia that are now generating enough energy to 

power more than 2,000 homes. I-Iowever, we should be doing a great 

deal more to expand Virginia's solar and offshore wind capacity. 

Virginia is also currently working to boost energy efficiency across the 

Commonwealth with a goal of cutting energy waste by 10 percent in 

2022 relative to 2006 levels. 

Virginia's localities are taking the initiative to increase energy efficiency 

as well. One example is in my home — Arlington County. The county 

has committed to reducing its energy intensity in public buildings 20 

percent by 2020 as a part of the President's Better Buildings Challenge. 

To date, Arlington has achieved improved energy performance of 12%. 
Another example is the University of Virginia, which has committed to 

the same goal in 15 million square feet of university buildings. 

In recent years Virginia's utility companies have also determined that it 

is more cost-effective to convert or shutdown 20 of their oldest and 

dirtiest coal-fired units. In fact, between 2008 and 2011, carbon 

emissions from Virginia's power sector decreased over 20 percent. 

However, while we have taken some important first steps to shrink 

carbon emissions in Virginia, we can and should be doing so much more 

to build on this momentum and reduce carbon pollution. 

Luckily, the Clean Power Plan gives Virginia the flexibility and 

autonomy to continue our success and craft a Virginia specific plan to 

meet our goals. 

In addition to helping avoid the negative consequences of climate 

change, bringing down carbon emissions will create new clean energy 

jobs and grow our economy. 

Neighboring states have already installed solar capacity at rates 10 to 

100 times higher than Virginia. This untapped solar capacity means that 

there is a tremendous opportunity for Virginia to develop a robust solar 

energy market that will create new jobs throughout the Commonwealth. 

Virginia's offshore wind resources are also abundant and unused. The 

build-out of our offshore wind lease area — the first such lease in the 

Mid-Atlantic — could provide as many as 10,000 clean energy jobs and 

power 700,000 homes with pollution-free energy. 

Additionally, energy efficiency programs are the most cost-effective 

way for utility companies to meet growing demand for electricity. These 

programs can also strengthen our economy by creating local jobs that 

cannot be outsourced. 
Moreover, according to Natural Resources Defense Council modeling, 

by 2020 alone, limits on carbon pollution could create more than 5,600 

new jobs in Virginia and contribute $517 million in energy savings for 

Virginia households. 

The solution is clear. 

Implementing this proposal is an important opportunity for the 

Commonwealth of Virginia to address the impacts of climate change 

while growing our economy, creating a more sustainable energy future, 

and preserving our environment for future generations. 

I urge DEQ and the McAuliffe Administration to give this proposal 

every consideration. 

As a proud Member of the General Assembly, I look forward to working 

with you to fully enact the guidelines for President Obama's Clean 

Power Plan here in Virginia.