Grist is featuring an interview with Phil Adams, World Energy’s President and COO, discussing the World Green Exchange launch, the current state of and the future of the carbon market. Grist’s Mark Pawlosky tapped Phil for insight on how the exchanges serving the market differ, as well as the growing number of states that are implementing renewable energy portfolio standards in the absence of a federal standard. Also discussed is the popularity of a cap-and-trade program:

Grist: A market-driven exchange solution has the unique distinction of being favored by both Democrats and Republicans, but there is growing support for a carbon tax — which its proponents claim is more equitable. Is it possible — indeed necessary — for an exchange, carbon tax, and other legislated solutions to live side by side to effectively reduce carbon emissions?

Adams: It seems to me that there should be one model in place, and given how well cap-and-trade has done with acid rain over the last couple of decades, and since it’s been adopted for Kyoto, I’m willing to believe that cap-and-trade is here to stay.

Also, World Energy’s been at Carbon Forum America in San Francisco this week. If you’re still around, we’re in booth #414, so stop by and let us know what you think about the World Green Exchange!

We wanted to share the Wall Street Journal’s thoughts on yesterday’s launch of the World Green Exchange. Keith Johnson, who talked with CEO Rich Domaleski, blogs about the exchange on the WSJ’s Environmental Capital blog:

Trading Places: A New Carbon Market
Posted by Keith Johnson

The increasingly crowed club of climate exchanges has a new member. The big question now: How and when will the U.S. carbon market really materialize?

World Green Exchange, an offshoot of an existing electricity-and-gas trading platform, officially launched operations Wednesday. To compete against the established, and much larger, climate-change exchanges out there, WGE brings a twist to the table: It runs auctions.

That brings buyers and sellers together directly, sort of a regulated e-Bay for trades of natural gas, electricity—or greenhouse-gas emission permits. World Energy started with electricity sales, but has been quietly selling renewable-energy certificates and “green” power since 2003, such as for states that need to ensure a certain part of their electricity mix comes from sources like wind farms.

We’d love to hear your thoughts about Keith’s take on the World Green Exchange.