Carbon Markets

Supreme Court Reinstates Cross-State Air Pollution Rule

The Supreme Court upheld EPA’s air pollution rule that regulates cross-border emissions of 28 upwind states to address downwind states’ compliance with air quality standards. On April 29, 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), reversing an August 2012 decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals…...

California Approves First Forestry Compliance Offset Project

California has approved the first forest carbon offset project under the cap-and-trade compliance forestry protocol. On April 9, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) announced approval of the first forest carbon offset project – the Yurok Tribe/Forest Carbon Partners CKGG Improved Forest Management Project – under California’s cap-and-trade forestry offset protocol.  CARB issued 836,619…...

California Cap and Trade Program Strong after First Year of Operation

On February 19, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) held its sixth carbon allowance auction. Auction results over the first year show that compliance entities are becoming more comfortable with program and that investor market confidence is growing. Similarly, a secondary allowance market is also developing as market confidence grows. Overview The California Air…...

Q1 2014 RGGI Auction Indicates Renewed Northeast Carbon Market

On March 4, 2014, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) held the first carbon allowance auction under the new Model Rule. Auction prices reached record levels and high market participation and allowance demand exhausted the 5 million allowance Cost Containment Reserve. Overview The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is the nation’s first mandatory market-based cap-and-trade…...

California’s Sixth Carbon Auction Results Released

California’s sixth carbon allowance auction sold all current 2014 and advanced 2017 allowances indicating cap-and-trade program stability. On February 24, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) released the results of its sixth quarterly carbon allowance auction held on February 19.  CARB offered 19,538,695 allowances under Current Auction (2014 vintage allowances) and 9,260,000 allowances under…...

CARB Releases First Proposed Update to AB 32 Scoping Plan

The California Air Resources Board’s proposed AB 32 Scoping Plan update calls for a mid-term emissions reduction target and recommends sector-specific actions. On February 10, 2014, the California Air Resources Board (ARB) released its Proposed First Update to the AB 32 Scoping Plan, outlining priorities and recommendations to achieve the state’s long-term climate goal of…...

Massachusetts Finalizes Emissions Regulations

Massachusetts has finalized RGGI regulation amendments to implement a new emissions cap of 91 million tons per year, starting in 2014. On December 9, 2013, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued final amendments to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) regulations of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Pursuant to the RGGI Updated Model Rule…...