Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing – May 2023 Update
Heightened activity around carbon pricing mechanisms reflects the need for expedited measures to align with ambitious emissions reduction trajectories.
ENVIRONMENTAL MARKETS
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing – February 2023 Update
Stringent climate policies have prompted discussions around comprehensive cap-and-invest programs to address emissions across multiple sectors. Several U.S. states have devised bold climate action plans that call for transformations across industry, energy, and transportation sectors.
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing – October 2022 Update
Discussions about carbon pricing continue to evolve as the strategy is increasingly viewed as a policy tool that can play an expanded role in a broader policy mix to meet ambitious climate goals.
Visual Primer: U.S. Energy Industry Turns to Carbon Capture to Reach Net-Zero Emissions
The increasing focus on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions to achieve climate goals has drawn renewed attention to the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies. Federal investments in carbon management through the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) have provided a near-term opportunity to scale commercial carbon capture projects.
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing April 2022 Update
U.S. carbon markets drew strong participation in recent auctions reflecting potentially higher demand for carbon allowances in anticipation of more stringent federal and state climate policies. Washington is advancing a new cap-and-invest program, while Vermont is examining options for a similar initiative to cut transportation sector emissions.
Visual Primer: Biden Administration Renews Focus on Social Cost of Carbon to Further Climate Action
Discussion around the social cost of greenhouse gases has drawn increased interest following the Biden administration’s renewed focus on establishing the climate metric for federal agencies to incorporate in their policy decisions.
Visual Primer: Climate Push Intensifies Across U.S. to Meet Ambitious Environmental and Energy Goals
Federal and state government agencies across the U.S. are advancing climate measures for effective implementation of emissions-reduction strategies to progress towards ambitious goals. Federal actions include an executive order directing the federal government to use its procurement power to achieve net-zero emissions, stronger auto fuel standards, and a methane reduction proposal. Recent state actions range from New York’s plan to implement its landmark climate law to Colorado’s oil and gas emission standards, and a cap-and-invest program in Oregon.
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing November 2021 Update
Interest in carbon pricing mechanisms has deepened as lawmakers and regulators explore policy tools to address emissions reductions in order to reach ambitious clean energy and climate goals. Cap-and-trade is figuring more prominently as an efficient market-based means to achieve significant carbon reductions and create an incentive to invest in non-emitting technologies.
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing July 2021 Update
Emission trading is coming to prominence as a key market-based tool in state efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, including decarbonization of the electricity sector. Among recent actions Washington has enacted legislation to implement an economy-wide cap-and-invest system, becoming the second state to have a comprehensive carbon-pricing program, and Pennsylvania has adopted rulemaking for a carbon trading program covering the power sector.
Policy Primer: Carbon Pricing
As the Biden administration takes action to address climate change through federal policies including rejoining the Paris Agreement and increasing the social cost of carbon, states continue to strengthen existing carbon pricing programs and advance new initiatives. State-level activity on emission-trading programs and carbon pricing is expected to remain on the rise as more jurisdictions embrace policy goals to transition to a lower-carbon power system and economy.
Visual Primer: Northeastern Regional Carbon Market Gets A Boost With New Members
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), which established the nation's first mandatory emissions-trading program, received a further boost as Virginia finalized regulations to become its eleventh member and Pennsylvania, the third largest coal-producing state, adopted draft regulations to join the program, following New Jersey’s re-entry after a decade.
EnerKnol’s Visual Primer – RGGI Carbon Auction Signals Steady Market Defying COVID-19 Impacts
Prices in the 10-state Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative’s latest carbon auction rose to the highest since 2015, defying impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic as two more states gear up to join the initiative. Meanwhile, revenues from California’s post-pandemic auction tumbled to $25 million, less than 5 percent of the previous auction proceeds, pointing to a need for reforms for predictable outcomes and a long-term strategy to fund climate programs.