A coalition of 13 states joined by more than 200 mayors have expressed their commitment to uphold the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement after President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the accord. Climate efforts continues to shift to regional and state levels as demonstrated by the quick response from states and cities nationwide.
DetailsResults of California’s February 2017 quarterly carbon auction continue to reflect overall market volatility over the past year, due to the ambiguity over the post-2020 cap-and-trade program and pending litigation over the program’s legality. A resolution of legal uncertainties and clarity over the future direction of the cap-and-trade program will increase market activity as participants perceive greater certainty.
DetailsResults of California’s February 2017 quarterly carbon auction continue to reflect overall market volatility over the past year, due to the ambiguity over the post-2020 cap-and-trade program and pending litigation over the program’s legality. A resolution of legal uncertainties and clarity over the future direction of the cap-and-trade program will increase market activity as participants perceive greater certainty.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update establishing new ozone season NOX emission budgets for electric generating units in 22 eastern states that impair downwind states’ ability to meet the 2008 ozone standard. The rule will be implemented through the existing ozone season NOX trading program starting from the 2017 ozone season (May through September).
DetailsThe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule Update establishing new ozone season NOX emission budgets for electric generating units in 22 eastern states that impair downwind states’ ability to meet the 2008 ozone standard. The rule will be implemented through the existing ozone season NOX trading program starting from the 2017 ozone season (May through September).
The California Legislature has passed SB 32, which extends the state’s climate policies through 2030, and its companion bill AB 197, which increases legislative oversight of the California Air Resources Board (CARB). The passed measures set the stage for additional requirements to reshape the mix of market and regulatory mechanisms to further renewable energy, building energy efficiency, and vehicle electrification.
DetailsThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a proposal to comply with the Clean Power Plan (CPP) based on California’s existing cap-and-trade program, together with complementary state policies, such as renewable fuel standards and energy efficiency requirements. The action makes California the first state to forge ahead with CPP implementation efforts despite pending judicial review and adds momentum to integrating existing market-based emissions programs as an efficient way to comply with the CPP.
DetailsThe California Air Resources Board (CARB) has issued a proposal to comply with the Clean Power Plan (CPP) based on California’s existing cap-and-trade program, together with complementary state policies, such as renewable fuel standards and energy efficiency requirements.
On July 15, 2016 the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted a stay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regional haze rule for Texas and Oklahoma pending judicial review. The decision questions the Agency’s ability to claim that regional rules have national scope and adds to the list of pending litigations against EPA regulations, most notably, the Supreme Court’s February action granting a stay of the Clean Power Plan (CPP) which set carbon dioxide regulations for existing fossil fuel-fired power plants. Ongoing litigations highlight increasing judicial scrutiny of EPA regulations due to accusations of overreach and failure to properly consider costs and impacts of proposed or finalized rules.
DetailsCourt stay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regional haze rule for Texas and Oklahoma highlights the increasing judicial scrutiny of EPA regulations due to accusations of overreach and failure to properly consider costs and impacts of proposed or finalized rules.
As the legal fate of the CPP is still pending, with an outcome that will have notable implications on RGGI allowance prices, clarifications regarding RGGI’s post-2020 cap will help reduce regulatory uncertainty in the RGGI market.
As part of their 2016 Program Review, member states of the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) are examining opportunities to link RGGI with the Clean Power Plan (CPP), such as altering or removing the program’s Cost Containment Reserve (CCR) to address oversupply of allowances while preserving a mechanism to prevent price volatility. The alignment of RGGI control periods with CPP interim step periods would facilitate market expansion, as RGGI is the primary CPP compliance mechanism for member states and continues to draw attention from non-RGGI states. As the legal fate of the CPP is still pending, with an outcome that will have notable implications on allowance prices, clarifications regarding RGGI’s post-2020 cap will help reduce regulatory uncertainty in the RGGI market.
