On Wednesday, California is slated to launch its cap-and-trade program with its first auction for carbon allowances.

The state often leads the way of trying to clean up its air by reducing emissions. Getting utilities such as Southern California Edison and Imperial Irrigation District to get at least 20 percent of all of its power from renewable energy has also been part of that equation.

But will the feds finally follow suit, especially with environmentally-friendly Democrats controlling the White House and the Senate? Not likely, although it won’t hurt California’s ongoing push to reduce its carbon footprint.

A story from InsideClimate News – a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers clean energy, carbon energy, nuclear energy and environmental science – explains why that might be the case.