Spanberger’s RGGI Push Betrays Working-Class Democrats on Affordability

RGGI’s cap-and-trade facade masks a tax on energy, inflating bills without commensurate global climate gains. Industrial sectors absorbed $1,500 monthly increases before, and with prices now at $26 per ton, reentry spells disaster for small businesses and manufacturers. Spanberger’s ‘affordability agenda’ rings hollow against this backdrop, echoing elite priorities over blue-collar needs.

Concerningly, this aligns with broader leftist overreach: DEI quotas in contracts, wind and solar subsidies that bypass reliable sources. Virginia’s housing crisis, with median prices exorbitant, demands deregulation—not more regulatory costs. Youngkin’s reforms deregulated 35% of land, trimming $24,000 from average homes; RGGI undermines such pragmatic steps.

Traditional Democrats, focused on jobs and costs, should critique this trajectory. Even blue states question RGGI’s efficacy. Funds once went to efficiency, but net impact burdened ratepayers disproportionately. True progress lies in market incentives, not coercive schemes that export emissions and jobs.

In Loudoun, families face compounded pressures; RGGI’s return exacerbates them. Moderate voices must push back against these concerning policies, advocating targeted environmentalism without punishing productivity. Spanberger’s pivot validates Republican warnings, urging a conservative-leaning correction within the party for working Virginians.

The stakes demand vigilance: reject RGGI revival, embrace deregulation for housing and energy freedom.