Administration Softening Position on Emissions Allowances

White House science adviser John Holdren says the Obama administration might agree to auction only a portion of the emissions allowances granted at first under a cap-and-trade system to limit greenhouse gas pollution. That is a change from the stance the President took during the Presidential campaign when he called for auctioning off all the emissions permits. Industries would still buy and sell the allowances in an open market as the cap on total emissions was gradually lowered.

Holdren indicated the final goal is to get to a 100 percent auction, and - whether you get there to start with or get there over a period of time is something that's being discussed. Ultimately, Holdren said - the idea, obviously, is to end up with a bill that reflects both the thinking of Congress and the administration, a bill that the president can sign. Members of both the administration and Congress are said to be looking at a variety of policy options to help make the transition.

For weeks the President's assistant on energy and climate change, Carol M. Browner, has convened regular meetings with roughly a dozen key administration officials to develop national energy and climate policy. They include Holdren; the secretaries of agriculture, commerce, energy, housing and urban development, interior, and transportation. The group has explored questions such as how to pursue offshore wind energy, agricultural practices and a new national greenhouse gas emissions standard for vehicles.