The recently formed Western Climate Initiative (WCI), designed to implement a cap and trade program for greenhouse gas emissions among independent jurisdictions, has hired its first executive director. Anita Burke will lead the initiative of seven western states and four Canadian provinces. Each WCI partner jurisdiction will have an emission allowance budget consistent with its emissions goal for 2020. Three year compliance periods, consistent reporting methodologies, and a new auction system will help achieve the regional goal of 15% emissions reduction from 2005 levels by 2020. California, British Columbia, and Quebec are the first jurisdictions to appoint members to the WCI board. Read more »