Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has unveiled plans to participate in a regional cap-and-trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Oregon and California would also be part of the regional bloc. It would require high-polluting industries to reduce their emissions or purchase carbon credits.

Gregoire says the program will help Washington meet its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels.

Chris Gregoire: "We already know that this system of cap and trade - which may seem to some foreign - we already know it works. It’s already working – for example – in ten Northeast and Mid Atlantic states who have put it into place. It’s already working in the European Union. They’ve had the system in place for four years.”

In fact, the New York Times reports the European system is off to a rocky start and has rewarded, rather than penalized, some of the worst polluters.

Critics of cap and trade – including many Republicans – worry that it will hurt businesses and result in lost jobs.

Washington State Representative Shelly Short says it makes more sense to let the Obama administration lead the way with a national climate change policy – rather than do it state-by-state.