Carol Eaton, a spokeswoman for the Associated General Contractors of California, has an article on the AGCC website about the state’s new cap and trade program and it’s worth a look.

Eaton reports that the California Air Resources Board held a “practice” auction of greenhouse gas allowances on Aug. 30 that will “serve as a precursor to the official roll-out this fall.”

The trial run of the online auction of emissions permits, she reports, was designed to work out any hitches in the program prior to official roll-out on Nov. 14, 2012. California companies that registered for the cap-and-trade program in January 2012, estimated at around 150 firms, were eligible to participate in the practice auction Aug. 30. ARB reported on its website that it plans to conduct the first quarterly reserve sale on March 8, 2013.

The cap-and-trade program is part of the state’s implementation of the AB 32 climate change law, which is designed to reduce carbon pollution levels in California to 1990 level by the year 2020.

Employers groups in California have largely stood in opposition to the new regulation, which they say will harm California businesses and consumers alike who will ultimately pay more for power as a result of the program, provide disincentive for business in California and deal yet another blow to the state’s overall economy.


To read Eaton’s full story, click here.