carbon emissions
Here’s how WA spent first sliver of cap-and-trade dollars
As Washington conducted another sale of pollution credits on Wednesday, a new report shows initial dollars spent from the state’s carbon pricing program bolstering public transit and transportation services. More than 100 projects received slices of $76.2 million in Climate Commitment Act revenue in the last budget, contributing to a reduction of 191,000 metric tons […]
Ahead of climate conference, U.S. House panel tussles over curbs on emissions
Republicans on a U.S. House panel argued Wednesday against aggressive moves to meet carbon reduction goals, saying U.S. fossil fuel companies are working to make their products cleaner. Democrats on the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Minerals countered that to achieve further reductions, federal policies should be continued […]
Washington sets out to merge its carbon market with California and Québec
Washington’s campaign to aggressively curb climate-damaging air pollution entered a new phase Thursday with a decision to pursue linking the state’s carbon market with ones in California and Québec. Washington Director of Ecology Laura Watson made the expected announcement, calling it “the best path” to addressing the “moral imperative of protecting Washington and the planet […]
Why expanding WA’s carbon market could deliver savings for consumers
If Washington links its carbon market with the ones in California and Quebec, businesses would spend less to comply with the state’s tough emission reduction rules and could pass those savings onto consumers, according to a new analysis. Being part of a larger market should result in companies covered by Washington’s climate law paying lower […]
Extra cap-and-trade auction may net $62M for Washington
A special auction of pollution allowances on Aug. 9 likely generated $62.5 million for Washington, revenue that the state can funnel into programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change. During the three-hour bidding window, all 1,054,000 allowances offered were sold at preset prices, the state Department of Ecology reported Wednesday. Two batches […]
High prices trigger special auction of emission allowances
Washington will sell a limited number of emission allowances Aug. 9 in response to higher-than-expected prices in the most recent auction of the state’s cap-and-trade program. The special auction is from the Allowance Price Containment Reserve, a separate pool of allowances made available when the prices at a quarterly auction exceed a certain level, state […]
State preps for second sale of pollution allowances
Washington is preparing to conduct its second auction of pollution allowances on Wednesday, May 31 with proceeds paying for an array of programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat the effects of climate change. The 2021 Climate Commitment Act created a cap-and-trade program aimed at getting the state’s largest polluters, including facilities like oil […]
A climate cash spending spree is about to get underway in Washington state
More than a year before Democrats in Congress approved a massive climate law last year, Washington state enacted the nation’s second cap-and-trade program that will provide billions of dollars for carbon reduction and environmental justice projects. The funding is something climate activists have been seeking for years — if not decades — and state leaders […]