Adam Spanberger: Virginia's First Gentleman Ushers in a New Era

The **Virginia State Capitol**, located in Richmond atop Shockoe Hill, serves as the seat of Virginia's legislative branch, housing the General Assembly in continuous use since 1788.[1][2][3] Designed by **Thomas Jefferson**—while U.S. Minister to France—with French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau, it draws directly from the ancient Roman Maison Carrée temple in Nîmes, marking it as the first post-Revolutionary War public building in the New World to adopt this neoclassical temple form and introduce classical architecture to American democracy.[1][2][4][5] Construction began in 1785, with cornerstone laid by Governor Patrick Henry; the Assembly convened there by 1792.[1][7] This is Virginia's eighth capitol, prior ones lost to colonial-era fires.[1] During the Civil War (1861–1865), it temporarily functioned as the Confederate States of America's capitol.[1][2] A tragic 1870 structural collapse killed over 60, prompting renovations; wings for the Senate and House were added in 1904–1906 by John Kevan Peebles, plus front steps to fulfill Jefferson's vision.[1][4][5][7] Further expansions include a 2007 underground visitor center by RMJM's Sonja Bijelić, enhancing security, preservation, and accessibility while respecting historic integrity.[1][3][7] **Key achievements** include its 1960 designation as a National Historic Landmark and tentative UNESCO World Heritage status, influencing global public architecture as a "temple to Liberty."[1][5][7] Notable aspects: one of 12 U.S. capitols without an external dome (interior rotunda dome hidden under the roof, added 1794); Houdon's George Washington statue; and Capitol Square's preserved 19th-century landscaping by Maximilian Godefroy and John Notman.[1][5]

The **Science Museum of Virginia (SMV)**, established in 1970 as a state agency, inspires curiosity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through interactive exhibits, live demos, and digital content, housed in the iconic 1917 Broad Street Station in Richmond.[1][4] Its history traces to 1906, when the Virginia General Assembly funded exhibits for the Jamestown Exposition, leading to a modest "State Museum" in 1910 that displayed minerals, timber, and natural specimens in Capitol Square basements.[1][3] Closure in the 1960s spurred advocacy by the Virginia Academy of Sciences, led by Dr. Roscoe D. Hughes, culminating in enabling legislation on July 1, 1970, after persistent lobbying amid financial stability.[1][2][3] The museum opened exhibits in the renovated station in 1976, with Governor Mills E. Godwin dedicating the Discovery Room in 1977, marking over 70 years of effort.[1] Key achievements include the 1981 world's largest analemmic sundial (Guinness-recognized), Crystal World—the premier crystallography exhibit—and hosting the Solar Challenger, the first solar-powered airplane.[1] The museum expanded with a remodeled aquarium and now spans 223,000 square feet, featuring hands-on zones like eco, animal, and art labs, makerspaces, and outdoor assets such as a 29-ton Kugel ball, 80-ton submarine, and pollinator gardens.[4] Today, SMV thrives as a STEM catalyst, offering Dome shows on astronomy and Earth sciences, quirky videos, and touring exhibitions on innovation and wellness—test your speed against a rat or calculate a cheeseburger's water footprint.[4][6] It hosts events in versatile venues like the Dewey Gottwald Center (up to 1,000 capacity), blending historic grandeur with modern tech appeal.[5] Supported by a nonprofi

The **Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI)**, pronounced "Reggie," is the United States' first mandatory market-based cap-and-trade program, capping and reducing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from fossil fuel power plants over 25 megawatts in 11 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia.[1][2][4] Launched in 2009 after a 2005 Memorandum of Understanding among seven initial states (later expanded), RGGI sets a regional emissions cap, issuing tradable allowances—one per short ton of CO₂—via quarterly auctions. Power plants must acquire these for emissions, with the cap declining annually (e.g., 3% yearly through 2030), driving a shift to cleaner energy.[1][3][4][5] Proceeds, over 90% from auctions, fund energy efficiency, renewables, bill assistance, and abatement, spurring innovation and jobs.[4][6] Key achievements include halving power sector CO₂ emissions since inception—48% drop from 2006–2008 baselines by 2016–2018, and 40% by 2014—outpacing national trends by 90%.[1][2][3] This yielded $4.7 billion in net economic benefits (2009–2017), $5.7 billion in health savings, hundreds of millions in consumer energy bill reductions, and $1.4 billion in positive activity (2015–2017).[1][2][3][4] Coal generation plunged, while natural gas, wind, solar, and efficiency surged, lowering wholesale prices.[4] Currently, RGGI thrives as a "cap-and-invest" model, with periodic reviews enhancing reductions—like 2019 investments projecting $1.3 billion in lifetime savings and