Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon lawmakers meeting next month will try to resolve their differences with the governor over a pair of controversial renewable energy policies. The proposals are getting their first airings this week. Chris Lehman reports.

Governor Ted Kulongoski vetoed two bills in August to the dismay of his fellow Democrats, who approved the measures.

Now, new compromises could come up for votes during the February special session.

One bill would allow utilities to eventually include biomass facilities built before 1995 to count toward the state's renewable portfolio standard.

Critics, including John Audley of Renewable Energy Northwest, said the original proposal would have weakened the demand for new projects such as solar and wind power. But Audley says both sides have given some ground with a new proposal.

John Audley:  "It maintains, in our opinion, the integrity of Oregon's renewable portfolio standard."

Another compromise in the works would tighten the rules about which projects qualify for the state's Business Energy Tax Credit.

The Governor vetoed an earlier attempt to scale back the credit. But critics have argued that it gives away tens of millions of dollars for projects that would have happened without the credit.