Carbon

36 Stories

Washington holds first carbon auction of 2024, with program's future in doubt

A ballot initiative aiming to stop Washington state from charging for carbon pollution is already reshaping the state’s carbon market.
John Ryan
Surge of new EV charging stations coming to Washington state
Dyer Oxley
The future of Washington state's carbon auction may come down to gas prices

Washington state Republicans hope you'll think about high gas prices when you vote this fall. A GOP-backed initiative to repeal the Climate Commitment Act -- which charges companies for emitting carbon into the atmosphere -- is likely headed to your ballot. Republicans argue it’s a misguided policy that’s been too painful for average Washingtonians filling their tanks. Democrats in Olympia are now racing to smooth out rough edges on Governor Inslee's signature environmental law – like those pesky high carbon auction prices. They’re making a case to save the law … which they argue is a necessary tool to help combat climate change.
Libby Denkmann

Hans Anderson
Can Microsoft become an AI leader and maintain its ambitious goals to cut carbon emissions?

In January 2020, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella announced one of the most ambitious plans to decarbonize of any tech company. By 2030, Microsoft would be carbon negative, removing more carbon from the atmosphere than it emits. By 2050, Microsoft would remove all of the carbon it has ever emitted since the company’s founding in 1975.
Monica Nickelsburg
Washington state aims to connect with other markets to help reduce carbon costs

Washington officials aim to link the state’s fight against climate change to similar efforts elsewhere in North America.
John Ryan
Climate Pledge becomes first sports arena to earn zero carbon certification
KUOW Staff
The numbers are in: Washington's carbon credit auction raised nearly $300M

This is the first year Washington has implemented its new cap-and-invest program. The first auction for those credits was held in February. Major polluters in the state cannot surpass a certain pollution amount, unless they buy credits to offset their emissions.
Paige Browning
Washington state has a new carbon credit market. What does that mean?

In the face of climate change, some state governments are turning to an old standby: market-based solutions to try to lower carbon emissions. With the first carbon credit auction set to take place in Washington, how will the state balance industry with conservation?
Libby Denkmann

Alec Cowan
Despite rise in emissions, Gov. Inslee says Washington can still meet carbon pollution goals

Washington state is not meeting its own greenhouse gas reduction goals. But in an interview, Gov. Jay Inslee said he thinks the state can still meet its reduction goals by 2050.
Paige Browning

Dyer Oxley
Saving local forests, with help from big business

Earlier this month, a blockchain company based in Delaware struck the biggest carbon offset deal in history with the city of Issaquah. This kind of deal is a new frontier in both saving local forests and tackling climate change. We talked to Seattle Times environment reporter Lynda Mapes about how this all works back when the state of Washington announced they’re getting into this game. Today we’re revisiting that episode.
Patricia Murphy

Clare McGrane

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