{"id":26551,"date":"2026-09-09T16:20:41","date_gmt":"2026-09-09T21:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/?p=26551"},"modified":"2026-09-09T16:23:18","modified_gmt":"2026-09-09T21:23:18","slug":"washington-cap-and-invest-sees-lowest-prices-in-years-following-linkage-agreement-with-california-and-quebec","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/climate411\/2026\/09\/09\/washington-cap-and-invest-sees-lowest-prices-in-years-following-linkage-agreement-with-california-and-quebec\/","title":{"rendered":"Washington Cap-and-Invest sees lowest prices in years following linkage agreement with California and Qu\u00e9bec"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Results were released today for the third auction of the year, and 15th overall, in Washington\u2019s Cap-and-Invest program. The auction, conducted last week, is the first following the signing of a joint linkage agreement<\/a> between California, Washington and Qu\u00e9bec on June 25th of this year \u2014 a major milestone in the process of expanding the largest economy-wide carbon market in North America.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cap-and-Invest 101<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Washington\u2019s Cap-and-Invest auctions are administered quarterly by the Department of Ecology. During the auction, participating entities submitted their bids for allowances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under the Climate Commitment Act \u2014 Washington\u2019s landmark climate law that sets a binding, declining limit on pollution \u2014 major emitters in Washington are required to hold one allowance for every ton of climate pollution they emit, with the total number of allowances decreasing each year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This system requires Washington\u2019s polluters to reduce their emissions in line with the state\u2019s climate targets, as fewer allowances become available annually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

September auction results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n