The Clean Power Plan issued this summer by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency provides considerable flexibility to Virginia and other states to decide how to cut carbon pollution from coal- and gas-fired power plants to help reduce global warming.

Depending on the approach taken, more or less carbon pollution will result. If Virginia is to maximize carbon reduction, bold steps are needed to be included in the state’s plan.

However, big polluters like Dominion and Appalachian Power are pushing for a weaker state plan. They hope to convince General Assembly members that new power plants should be omitted from the plan and that natural gas is a better option than renewable energy like wind and solar, even though there are projections that within decades fast-growing solar could eclipse natural gas and oil as the dominant source of energy.

In January, when the General Assembly convenes to consider Virginia’s plan to meet EPA requirements, the debate is likely to heat up fast.

Legislation already has been introduced intending to block action on the Clean Power Plan.

There is a better way. Momentum has grown behind a win-win solution for our state: To join the existing, nine-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which includes states from Maine to Maryland. This program has proven to lower emissions while creating jobs, saving consumers money and hastening the switch to clean energy.

By requiring Virginia’s dirtiest power plants to pay for excess emissions, the RGGI program could provide $200 million to our state annually to reinvest in clean energy solutions. These funds would enable our state to raise roadways to keep them usable as sea levels rise, to restore wetlands to fight flooding along our coast, to allow homeowners and businesses to install solar equipment, to retrofit buildings to save energy and to train workers for new clean energy jobs.

The Virginia Coastal Protection Act, a bipartisan bill that would enable Virginia to join RGGI, was introduced in the 2015 General Assembly session but was not adopted.

Now is the time for all those who want our state to be on the forefront of reducing emissions of carbon and other greenhouse gases to email or write a letter urging Gov. Terry McAuliffe to support, and your delegate and state senator to pass, the Virginia Coastal Protection Act.

An outpouring of such letters and emails would show there is broad support for our state to join the RGGI and to put a higher priority on renewable energy.

GLEN BESA

Richmond

The writer is the director of the Virginia Chapter of the Sierra Club.