California's first cap and trade carbon
auction raised 233 million dollars, dispelling doubts that the first
such scheme in the country would be under-subscribed.
Figures released Tuesday by the California Air Resources Board
(CARB) showed that all 23.1 million carbon permits on sale were sold,
with most of them snapped up by companies needing to reduce their
carbon emissions, rather than banks or other speculative entities.
Opponents had warned that the scheme would raise costs for
companies doing business in the state and force them to move
elsewhere. But that claim was dismissed by Mary Nichols, chairwoman
of the Air Resources Board. "The first auction of carbon allowances
was a success," she said during a conference call with journalists.
"This is an important milestone for our state. By putting a price
on carbon, we know we are beginning the process of breaking our
dependence on fossil fuels."
