The 10 eastern U.S. states participating in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative cap-and-trade system raised $104.2 million in the fourth quarterly auction of carbon allowances held June 17, they said Friday in a release.

The 2009 allowances cleared at $3.23 a ton, which was below prices in the third auction, which cleared at $3.51. The 2012 allowances cleared at $2.06 a ton, which was also below the last auction of $3.05.

(Reporting by Scott DiSavino)

Climate change