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Salem's Lot

Posted by Clark Williams-Derry

01/25/2007 02:05 PM

Oregon moves towards climate legislation.

Looks like Oregon's making its move:

Gov. Ted Kulongoski is backing a proposal that would force utilities to increase energy efficiency, increase their reliance on renewable energy and limit greenhouse gas emissions.

He said he would work with other Western states to discuss a regional program called cap-and-trade, but an initial program just within Oregon also is viable.

So it looks like Oregon is set to follow California's lead: establishing aggressive greenhouse gas reduction goals, and setting the stage for some hard-edged programs to meet those targets. Of course, Oregon's first step -- tax incentives for ethanol and biodiesel -- is fairly thin stuff. But combined with a cap-and-trade program, it's a much stronger brew.

So for now, it looks like Washington is the odd-state-out on the west coast. California, BC, and Oregon are talking about big changes on the climate front -- changes that will be far more powerful and effective if the entire region acts together. But Washington, it seems, is getting left in the dust.

Oregon

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Comments

Posted by RMC 01/25/2007 07:15 PM

Again, see my post below the re: California legislation. We won't know anything about these programs until they survive a constitutional challenge.

Also, Washington has two Senate bills pending that would address this issue.

Posted by Alan Durning 01/25/2007 11:08 PM

The proposed cap and trade system in Oregon, as I understand it from a quick read of today's Oregonian (I'm in Portland today), is limited to electric utilities. It excludes oil and natural gas.

That's an important move in Oregon, which gets more electric power from coal-fired power plants in the Rocky Mountain region than does either Washington or British Columbia. But it's also a much narrower proposal than what's on the table in California: a comprehensive cap and trade system covering all major sources of emissions.

Or am I misinformed?

Posted by WRE 01/26/2007 05:09 PM

I think you're accurate here. You may not agree but in terms of state actions on climate, electricity and gas are somewhat different. Oregon is contemplating a load based cap. Electric utilities are integrated (own their generation) and can move towards greater renewables and thus reduce their carbon footprint. Natural gas utilities don't have an option of changing sources. Arguably a state program for natural gas should drive greater efficiency on the gas side--through more efficiency spending, through combined heat and power. When carbon requirements come at the federal level, as they no doubt will, a cap might go upstream to producers of coal and gas (but that's difficult for a state to accomplish). You agree?

Great to hear you today out in Hillsboro!