June 18, 2019 Comments Off on Oregon Nears Monumental Cap-and-Trade Proposal Views: 733 Seattle & Pacific Northwest News, Top Seattle

Oregon legislators are set to adopt a progressive climate policy that would make it the second state after California to pass a cap-and-trade program. The market-based approach of HB 2020 seeks to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help thwart global warming. Oregon’s program would begin in 2021, and has set a goal of reducing emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The Oregon House passed the bill late Monday night, 36 to 24. It now heads to the Oregon Senate.

Gov. Kate Brown indicated she would sign the measure, noting in a statement that “Oregon can be the log that breaks the jam nationally” on climate policy. A Tweet by the governor on Monday said, “All eyes are on us — we have an incredible opportunity to be the first state in more than a decade to push forward a comprehensive, statewide, market-based carbon reduction program, and be a leader for state-level policy on climate action.”

Supporters say the program will cut emissions and invest in transitioning the state economy and infrastructure. The state believes it will also put it in a better position to prepare for more intense weather events as climate change worsens.

Oregon’s cap-and-trade program would place an overall limit on emissions and auctions off pollution permits or “allowances” for each ton of carbon industries plan to emit. Typically, the largest polluters are targeted, and as the emissions limits become stricter over time, it encourages them to adopt greener practices.

Read more at AP News

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Oregon Nears Monumental Cap-and-Trade Proposal

Dennis Kaiser