For states and jurisdictions interested in learning more about a potential pathway towards RGGI participation, please see the RGGI New State Participation Overview document.

Virginia

Virginia began participation in 2021, and ceased participation at the end of 2023. In 2026 Virginia initiated its process to resume RGGI participation. Virginia’s participation, along with their compliance requirements, will resume July 1, 2026. Virginia’s allowance budget for the second half of 2026 will be 11.48 million allowances, and they will participate in the September 9 and December 2, 2026 auctions.  This will be in addition to allowance offerings from the other ten RGGI participating states in those auctions. Virginia will also originate 1.148 million Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) allowances for the remainder of 2026.

Later this year, Virginia will undertake regulatory action to align the state’s program with the outcomes of the Third Program Review and the updated Model Rule by January 1, 2027.

More information is available on the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality website, here.

In July 2020, Virginia concluded its initial process to begin RGGI participation with the release of a final regulation which was accompanied by a statement from the RGGI states.

On May 2, 2019 a Virginia state budget was finalized containing provisions introduced through the state legislature which restrict Virginia from participating in RGGI at this time.

On April 19, 2019 Virginia's Air Pollution Control Board approved a version of Virginia's re-proposed regulation and the RGGI states shared a statement.

On February 21, 2019, the RGGI states submitted joint comments on Virginia's re-proposed draft regulation.

In September 2018, Virginia re-proposed an updated draft regulation and the RGGI states shared a statement.

On April 9, 2018, the RGGI states submitted joint comments on Virginia's first draft regulation.

On January 26, 2018, RGGI, Inc. facilitated a webinar meeting to gather stakeholder input on the potential participation of Virginia in the RGGI market.

In November 2017, Virginia released a draft regulation, and the RGGI states shared a statement.

New Jersey

New Jersey has developed a regulation to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Information related to this process is available on the state's Department of Environmental Protection site, at the link. Additional materials are below.

In June 2019, New Jersey released a final regulation, and the RGGI states shared a statement.

On behalf of the states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), RGGI, Inc. facilitated a webinar meeting on January 31, 2019 to gather stakeholder input on the potential participation of New Jersey in the RGGI market.

In December 2018, New Jersey released a draft regulation, and the RGGI states shared a statement.

Pennsylvania

[Note: In November 2025, Pennsylvania legislature passed a budget which the governor signed that included removal of the state from participation in RGGI.]

Pennsylvania has developed a regulation to participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Information related to this process is available on the state's Department of Environmental Protection site. Additional materials are below.

On November 1, 2023, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled that RGGI participation violates the state constitution. On November 21, 2023, the Governor’s office appealed this decision to the state Supreme Court.

On November 16, 2022, the merits of the lawsuits regarding PA’s RGGI regulation were heard by the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania during a set of hearings.

On August 19, 2022, RGGI, Inc. issued an amended auction notice stating that Pennsylvania was removing all its allowances offered for sale in the CO₂ Allowance Auction 57 on September 7, 2022. The amended auction notice was issued because DEP is currently enjoined from implementing and enforcing the RGGI regulation.

On July 8, 2022 the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued two separate orders enjoining PA DEP from implementation of Pennsylvania’s RGGI regulation to halt the state’s participation while there are ongoing lawsuits regarding the regulation.

On April 23, 2022, Pennsylvania published its regulation for RGGI participation. According to the regulation, Pennsylvania began participation on July 1, 2022.