Sign up | Login with →

Cap-and-Trade

Are solar subsidies unnatural but unavoidable?

May 14, 2012 by Alex Chapman
with 378 views
5

Wind energy has become the favourite whipping boy in the renewable energy world. However, solar energy has its critics as well. Wind energy opponents are usually current or prospective neighbours of turbine installations. Solar energy naysayers are typically actual or would-be economists. [read more]

National Clean Energy Standard Would Lower Power Sector CO2 Emissions 44% By 2035

May 8, 2012 by Joseph Romm
with 161 views
0

There’s no way around it: we need a price on carbon in order to rapidly reduce emissions. But absent that necessary policy, putting the investment structure in place to promote renewables can also have a substantial impact on lowering emissions. [read more]

Broadening the EU ETS debate

May 3, 2012 by David Hone
with 140 views
0

The ongoing debate in Europe about the current state of the Emissions Trading System (ETS) and the low carbon price outlook is gaining momentum and importantly gaining advocates for action, including senior figures from both business and academia on both sides of the Atlantic. [read more]

Making Sense of Misleading Talk about Cap-and-Trade in Europe and the USA

April 26, 2012 by Robert Stavins
with 284 views
2

Various advocates have labeled the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the EU-ETS as near “the brink of failure” because of the recent trend of very low auction prices. Not true! [read more]

New Report Suggests Best Approach to Invest Cap and Trade Revenue

April 19, 2012 by Kristin Eberhard
with 112 views
0

California’s safest option for guarding against lawsuits over how it spends the billions anticipated from its landmark cap-and-trade program is to channel the auction revenue toward reducing greenhouse gas pollution and furthering the goals of its Global Warming Solutions Act (AB32), according to a recent analysis.The conclusion by the... [read more]

Evaluating California's Cap and Trade Programme

April 17, 2012 by Kristin Eberhard
with 206 views
0

The nation is closely watching as California prepares to launch its first auction of pollution credits in a groundbreaking cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and potentially raise billions in revenue that can be reinvested in programs to reduce pollution and expedite the State’s transition to a clean energy... [read more]

Reflections on Twenty Years of Policy Innovation

April 17, 2012 by Robert Stavins
with 206 views
0

The SO2 cap-and-trade programme in the 90's was largely viewed as a success - then why did it's successor fail in the 2000's? The director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Programme takes a look. [read more]

Is the first emissions reductions mechanism usually the strongest?

April 13, 2012 by David Hone
with 122 views
0

Energy policy development over the last decade has shown one thing for certain, governments the world over are persistent in their desire to alter the energy mix and/or at least begin to manage emissions. How can businesses best respond to this trend and what role should they play? [read more]

Green Groups Embrace Climate Pragmatism

March 23, 2012 by Jesse Jenkins
with 184 views
1

Leading green groups, including the National Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club, are embracing a pragmatic approach to advance climate mitigation efforts by refocusing public outreach efforts around the near-term health benefits associated with reducing reliance on coal-fired power plants and increasing vehicle fuel efficiency."We... [read more]

The Dash (for Gas) Isn't Over Yet

March 21, 2012 by David Hone
with 243 views
0

Ed Davey, credit: UK DECC

Over the weekend the UK Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, Ed Davey, announced plans to secure a continuing role for natural gas in the UK power generation sector. So continues the rollout of a comprehensive policy framework designed to decarbonise the UK power sector, ensure security of supply / cost and provide sufficient certainty for the necessary investments to take place. [read more]

South Africa to Introduce Carbon Tax in 2013

March 13, 2012 by Jake Schmidt
with 313 views
0

South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan announced in his budget speech that a carbon tax will be implemented in the next financial year that runs from 2013-2014.  The proposal is to implement the carbon tax at a fairly low level, and then define an increasing price path over time.  It is a cautious approach but this is... [read more]

Interviewing Tom Friedman On The Urgency of Climate Action

March 6, 2012 by Joseph Romm
with 588 views
1

Friedman: “I’ve never been more concerned about climate change than I am now….” Tom Friedman had another good NY Times column Sunday on climate and clean energy, “Take the Subway.” The gist of it was that because of the urgency of climate change, we need to start aggressively deploying clean energy ASAP. I interviewed him about his... [read more]

Green economy: blessing or curse?

March 6, 2012 by David Hone
with 216 views
0

Green Economy: blessing or curse? was the title of a panel debate hosted by the UK newspaper, The Daily Telegraph, late last week. I was fortunate to participate in this, alongside Oliver Letwin MP, Minister of State (providing policy advice to the Prime Minister in the Cabinet Office) and Cabinet attendee. Other panel members were UCL Professor Paul Ekins, Jeremy Nicholson from the Energy Intensive Users Group and renewable energy venture capitalist Ben Goldsmith. Although Mr Letwin chose not to offer any opening remarks, his subsequent comments revealed some interesting thinking in the UK Government on energy and climate change. [read more]

Suck It Up: A book about climate change, geoengineering and air capture of CO2

March 2, 2012 by Marc Gunther
with 531 views
2

 Editor's note: Marc Gunther is a long-time advisory board member and contributor to TEC. Congratulations to Marc on the publication of his new book! I’m pleased to let you know that my book, Suck It Up: How capturing carbon from the air can help solve the climate crisis, is being published today as an Amazon Kindle Single. Please... [read more]

ARPA-E Summit 2012: Spurring Energy Innovation through the Tax Code

March 1, 2012 by Matthew Stepp
with 259 views
0

 Today marks the end of the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit, wrapping up a 3-day collection of America’s best, brightest, and most innovative clean energy thinkers and companies.  The discussions varied, but the underlying theme was straightforward: how can the United States accelerate and spur clean energy innovation. During... [read more]