US carbon experts see significant impetus for federal cap-and-trade

Experts remain optimistic about federal cap-and-trade legislation in the US, but believe regional schemes can step into the breach if a bill is not passed by the US Congress.

Pressure from several quarters is propelling legislators to enact a federal cap-and-trade initiative, according to Gauri Patankar, senior director at environmental brokerage Element Markets. Speaking in a webinar held by the Environmental Markets Association yesterday, Patankar said current uncertainty over regulation of carbon emissions by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), resulting litigation and a general preference by Congress and the Administration for legislation “continues to