The first auction of US carbon credits

Photo courtesy of Karen Eliot at Flickr.com.

Last week, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative held the first auction for US Carbon credits. This was an important milestone because the auction may set the pattern for a federal carbon tax. Funds raised at the RGGI auction will benefit six northeast states: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont. The states plan to spend this money (slightly more than $38 Million) to invest in energy efficiency, developing new technology, and other “programs to benefit electrical consumers”.

Hopefully, most of the money will be spent on the first two uses. If carbon taxes are used to subsidize the price of electricity, then that could actually accelerate climate change. In countries where the price of electricity is artificially reduced, demand is rising faster than production. This is causing some extremely dirty power plants to be built to meet short term need. Power outages and brownouts are also common.

Some people argue that revenue from carbon taxes is best used to implement programs that reduce the use of fossil fuel generated power. Possibilities include offering rebates on high-efficiency air conditioners, providing low cost loans for businesses that eliminate wasteful machinery, and building alternative power sources such as wind farms, geothermal generators, and solar arrays. When used in this way, carbon taxes can stimulate local businesses and encourage green consumption. In the long term, the economy will also benefit from energy self sufficiency.

Other states in the RGGI include New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, and Delaware. These states didn’t participate in the first auction, but they may participate in the next auction, on December 17, 2008. Registration begins in October.

So, who bought these carbon credits? Mostly, the buyers were power utilities that operate in New England. Several environmental groups also participated, bidding on credits with the intent of retiring them from circulation. Brokers and individuals were also allowed to participate, but the RGGI hasn’t released a list of buyers yet.

Bidders had the option of concealing their identity during the sign up process. This anonymous bidding is a bit troubling, since most companies would be happy to garner free publicity from buying carbon credits. It leaves the door open for companies to make false claims and makes it hard to independently verify which utilities are responsible stewards of the environment. Hopefully, the lack of disclosure is only a temporary situation, and future carbon auctions will be more transparent than the emissions they offset.

Photo courtesy of _Krystian PHOTOSynthesis (wild-thriving) _ at Flickr.com.

Tax laws are causing a solar installation frenzy, trying to beat end of 2008 tax credit expiration


Photo courtesy of
M.Barkley at Flickr.com.

At the end of this year, an elevated tax credit for for alternative energy projects is set to expire. These federal tax credits will decline from 30% of the total construction cost to just 10%, and several alternative energy groups have been lobbying Congress to extend the benefit. Even though some states and local power companies offer additional incentives to invest in alternative energy, the reduced Federal tax credits will have wide ranging effects. Industry experts and analysts expect companies who sell solar, wind, biogas, microturbine, and fuel cell technologies could be wiped out by reduced tax credits:

Without the credits, “I’ll essentially be out of business,” Tamas said. “Solar will be dead, other than for a little bit of residential.”

Congress was expected to renew these popular tax credits, but the Senate and House have gone into recess without doing so. Since many of these projects require months and months of construction time, there could be a lag in construction even if the credits are renewed in September. In the near term, the uncertainty is creating a solar building boom.

Many big retailers are attempting to complete green energy projects before the tax credits expire on December 31st. Wal-Mart, Kohl’s, Whole Foods, Safeway, REI, and BJ’s Wholesale club are just a few major companies that are accelerating their solar installation plans to beat the deadline. This means that solar workers are pulling overtime and likely to see big bonuses this year, but they may be getting pink slips in the spring.


Photo courtesy of
EGL Energy at Flickr.com.