Oregon Public Broadcasting

Congress is working on a bill that has major implications for Oregon and Washington's plans to fight climate change. April Baer reports. 

The Waxman-Markey bill proposes a cap and trade system, offering carbon allowances that could be used, traded, or sold by electric utilities and other polluters.

Eric dePlace with the Seattle-based Sightline Institute says regional upstarts like the Western Climate Initiative have apparently succeeded in spurring the federal government to action.

Eric dePlace: "Part of the reason why we're seeing action at the federal level is because there's been action at the state level. It's not the only reason, but it's a big part of it."

Environmentalists say the federal plan is in some respects weaker than the Western Climate Initiative, adopted by Oregon and ten other states and provinces.

But Governor Ted Kulongoski said through a spokeswoman he's encouraged to see it gaining momentum in Congress, and that compromises were necessary to get support for the bill.

It appears the bill would classify the burning of woody biomass as renewable energy. That's something Governor Kulongoski had been hoping for.