A proposal that would sharply reduce Oregon鈥檚 greenhouse gas emissions is one of the more pieces of policy making its way through the Capitol, with environmental advocates calling for stricter rules and businesses predicting doom.
Now, that debate is set to hit the road.
Bowing to concerns from Republican lawmakers, Democrats on Tuesday announced a set of four 鈥渞oad show鈥� hearings aimed at soliciting feedback from a wider swath of citizens, and an additional hearing that will involve remote testimony from Eastern Oregon and the coast.
The dates and locations of the planned hearings of the Legislature鈥檚 Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction are:
Feb. 22, Springfield: Springfield City Hall, Council Chamber, 12-3 p.m.
Feb. 23, Medford: Medford City Hall, Council Chamber, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Feb. 25, Remote Testimony: Possibly from Baker City and Newport will be fed to a hearing in the Capitol
March 1, The Dalles: The Dalles Civic Auditorium, Community Room, 12-3 p.m.
March 2, Bend: Central Oregon Community College, Cascade Hall, Room 246-248, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Republicans, who appear unified in opposing the cap-and-trade bill, , have repeatedly suggested the policy is being speedily rammed through because Democrats hold supermajorities in both the House and Senate. Shortly before the bill was unveiled, Republican leaders called on Democrats to take the proposal to voters around the state.
鈥淕iven most Oregonians have no clue concerning the fiscal hammer hurtling their direction, it is imperative they learn firsthand from the Carbon Reduction Committee,鈥� said Greg Stiles, spokesman for the House Republican caucus. 鈥淲hen the bill was finally presented publicly there were plenty of questions, even from Democrats.鈥�
Cap and trade has been debated in Oregon for years 鈥� most notably in 2018, when some Democratic lawmakers wanted to pass a proposal during the Legislature鈥檚 short session. The bill was ultimately scrapped to allow for more time to study the issue.
But another year of study has not blunted the controversy.
, HB 2020 would set a cap on overall greenhouse gas emissions in the state, and reduce it over time. It would also charge large polluters 鈥� including utilities, fuel importers and industrial facilities 鈥� for each ton of greenhouse gas they emit, though some entities would receive breaks.
Since the bill鈥檚 release, businesses have lined up to present concerns about cost increases they worry will put them at a disadvantage. For instance, the state鈥檚 largest natural gas provider, Northwest Natural, has predicted immediate double-digit price increases for many of its customers under the bill鈥檚 current language. It is pressing lawmakers for a better deal under the program.
Businesses that aren鈥檛 regulated under the policy have also voiced concern. Farmers and forest industry operators point out that fuel costs would rise under the policy, and suggest they鈥檇 be hammered if it passes.
Meanwhile, lawmakers last week heard from a consultant firm hired to predict how cap-and-trade would impact the state鈥檚 economy. A report from Berkeley Economic Advising and Research, or BEAR, suggested the cap-and-trade law would be positive for Oregon鈥檚 economic growth, creating tens of thousands of jobs by 2050.
BEAR managing director David Roland-Holst told lawmakers that while some industries may have a tough time transitioning, price increases due to the policy could be minimized using existing technology.
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of concern about the energy cost influence of permit prices, but I can tell you this will not be significant by comparison to the underlying volatility of the oil markets, let alone the long-term trends,鈥� Roland-Holst said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 know where those are going.鈥�
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