Virginia Gov. Northam announces climate goals for 2050

Today, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam signed Executive Order 43, setting a goal for the commonwealth to achieve 100 percent zero-carbon electricity by 2050.

Statement from Appalachian Voices Executive Director Tom Cormons:

This announcement from the Northam administration underscores that Virginia must chart a course for a cleaner, healthier and more economically vibrant future. We’re pleased that Virginia is joining other states that have pledged to take serious action on climate. But current state policies and plans for new fracked-gas infrastructure like the Atlantic Coast and Mountain Valley pipelines directly contradict the executive order’s ambitious goals.

Achieving 100 percent carbon-free electricity requires legislative reforms to remove barriers to distributed clean energy and ensure Virginians are not locked into paying for obsolete fossil fuel infrastructure. Virginia must enact policies that prioritize equity and environmental justice over profits for monopoly utilities and that assist communities most impacted by the shifting energy economy.

Appalachian Voices is committed to partnering with communities across Virginia to hold our leaders accountable and make sure they stay on track.